Psychological impact of war on children

THE Trauma and Mental Health report released by York University, Canada reveals that in the past decade, 18 million children were raised in the chaos of war.

Over two million children have been killed, six million have been disabled, 20 million homeless, and more than one million have become separated from their parents. Many children have watched in horror as their homes and schools were destroyed and have witnessed the death of their loved ones. Many live through situations where they believe they themselves would be killed.

The psychological damage makes it difficult to function, be successful in school, and to have relationships with friends and family.

Children who have been exposed to violent conflict struggle to recover from years of compounding traumas and reveal pervasive feelings of depression, anxiety, hopelessness, grief, resentment and anger.

When they become adults, they show poor “coping skills” in tackling routine daily situations.

As young adults, they show a propensity to abuse of alcohol and illegal substances. Their personalities, too, can be impaired and they are unable to form trusting relationships and show irritability over trivial matters. They constantly live in fear, have low self-esteem, bear hatred, entertain revenge and show a tendency towards violence.

With conflicts and resulting displacements, there tend to be an increase in instances of child abuse and neglect of children. Sanctions imposed by bigger nations over “recalcitrant” countries cause food insecurity and lack of medical supplies, which significantly affect children.

Lack of nutrients result in generations of stunted and malnourished children. Slowly starving of children can quite easily achieve the same end. Even children who are not born yet may suffer. Radioactive materials in bombs may cause birth defects and abnormalities.

Despite media attention and international outcry and condemnation, children continue to be the silent victims of wars declared with impunity. That is why it was refreshing to note that a few weeks ago in Kuala Lumpur, we witnessed an International forum titled “Engaging the Young to Criminalise War and Energise Peace” opened by Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyuddin Yassin. Notable was the active participation of children from premier schools and university students, including some from abroad. The passion displayed by students in opposing wars was inspiring. They expressed their anguish over the futility and stupidity of war.

One student, Puteri Fateh Arina Merican of Tunku Kurshiah College, kept the audience spellbound with her poem, Three Birds, an ode to those who went missing or perished in the two Malaysian related air tragedies.

In one stanza referring to the ill-fated flight MH17, she lamented: “The second (bird) died of murder with wings rent asunder, by an unknown hunter. Was it downed by enemy fire or was it just a friendly blunder?”

Clearly there was hope in the children at the conference. They proved that only a child can truly understand the pain of war on another child.

By our silence, we adults implicitly allow wars to undermine the very foundation of our children’s lives, maiming their bodies and stealing their spirit.