Hesperian Health Guides
Armed Conflict as a Cause of Child Disability
HealthWiki > Disabled Village Children > Chapter 3: Prevention of Disabilities > Armed Conflict as a Cause of Child Disability
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| Nicaraguan child injured by a Contra bomb. The Contras were rebel troops supported by the US government to overthrow the government of Nicaragua (Photo by Marc Krizack, Links.) |
Armed conflict takes many forms in the world, including wars, police and gang violence, and conflict related to drug activity. This violence often affects civilians as well as locations, like hospitals or schools, that were once considered “safe havens.” Worldwide, more than 1 in 10 children are affected by armed conflict. In the first decade of the 21st century, most of the deaths from armed conflicts were civilians, and many of these were children.
Combat and weapons are a threat to children, but many of the harms of armed conflict don’t come directly from the fighting, or end when the fighting stops. Violence often creates conditions that lead to injury, disability, and death in children. These include destruction of education and healthcare systems, increased poverty, environmental damage, and unsafe living conditions that force people to leave their homes or separate children from their families. These conditions have long-lasting impacts on children’s physical and mental development.
For children already affected by conflict, encouraging their participation in their care and recovery can help them feel more in control of their situation. Letting these children know what will happen during their care and incorporating play into rehabilitation can support their healing processes. Recognizing the needs of their caregivers and connecting their families to resources also supports their long-term well-being.
We must also work to prevent further harm to children from armed conflict. In areas subject to violence, programs that promote children’s access to education and families’ access to sources of income are vital to this effort. The resources below provide more information.
Resources
Emergency Response Tool Kits, available in more than 20 languages, fromCapacitar International, [email protected]
Available online: https://capacitar.org/capacitar-emergency-kits-to-download/
Refugee and Immigrant Core Stressors Toolkit, how stress and trauma affects
refugees and immigrants and ways to help. Boston Children’s Hospital Trauma and Community Resilience Center, [email protected]
Available online: https://redcap.tch.harvard.edu/redcap_edc/surveys/?s=HRPDCPPA3H
War Child: legal, psychosocial, and educational support to children affected by armed conflict. [email protected], www.warchild.org