The Archbishop of Panama Calls for Support for Children Affected by the Earthquake.

During the celebration of Panamanian Children’s Day on Nov 1st 2026, the Archbishop of Panama, José Domingo Ulloa dedicated part of his Sunday homily to reflecting on the situation faced by children affected by the recent earthquake, highlighting that they too are victims of the emergency and require comprehensive care to overcome the emotional aftereffects of the disaster. The archbishop stressed that attention to the child population takes on special importance after the effects of the earthquake, since many children experienced situations of fear and uncertainty when their homes, schools and daily environments are affected.  He pointed out that the response to the tragedy should not be limited solely to the reconstruction of the damaged infrastructure, but should also include emotional and psychological support for the children facing the consequences of the event.

Earthquakes and Effects on Children.

Physical trauma, severe psychological stress, disrupted routines, and heightened safety risks can affect children. They can experience broken bones, cuts, or crushing from collapsing structures and falling debris.  Higher rates of acute physical ailments can appear,  such as fevers, respiratory infections, and gastrointestinal issues due to damaged infrastructure and lack of clean water.  Children face disproportionate risks during and after disasters because they have higher air intake per pound of body weight and faster dehydration rates.

Up to half of children exposed to major disasters can show symptoms like hypervigilance, severe anxiety, and panic when hearing loud noises or aftershocks. In addition, the destruction or evacuation of schools halts learning and cuts children off from peer support systems. Separation from parents or losing caregivers increases vulnerability to exploitation, neglect, or abuse. Children can mirror the stress and mental health struggles of the adults around them, meaning parental distress directly amplifies a child’s recovery time.