In emergencies, children’s risks and exposure to violence, abuse, neglect and exploitation are further increased. Violations take place in health clinics, during food distributions, at water points, in schools and sometimes directly due to humanitarian workers’ actions or non-actions. Many threats to the safety and wellbeing of children can be diminished or even eradicated through timely and child-sensitive provision of humanitarian aid across all sectors. We all therefore have a critical role to play in protecting children.