In brief
This article delves into the harrowing experiences of children growing up in war-torn regions, focusing on Abdelrahman, an 11-year-old boy from Gaza who endured immense trauma, including the death of his father and the loss of his leg due to an air strike. It addresses the psychological ramifications of war on children, highlighting the need for stable environments and effective interventions to mitigate long-term effects. Experts emphasize the necessity of providing support not just to the children, but also their caregivers, to foster healthier outcomes amidst ongoing conflicts.
Content warning: this article includes details about the impact of conflict on children in war zones and descriptions of injuries that some readers may find distressing.The first thing was that Abdelrahman's dad was killed. The family home was struck by an Israeli air strike. The boy's mum, Asma al-Nashash, 29, remembers that 'they brought him out in pieces'.Then on 16 July 2024, an air strike hit the school in Nuseirat, central Gaza. Eleven-year-old Abdelrahman was seriously wounded. Doctors had to amputate his leg.His mental state began to deteriorate. He started pulling his hair and hitting himself hard, Asma recalls. He became like someone who has depression, seeing his friends playing and running around… and he's sitting alone.When I meet Abdelrahman at a hospital in Jordan in May 2025, he is withdrawn and wary. Dozens of children have been evacuated to the Kingdom from Gaza for medical treatment.We will return to Gaza, he tells me. We will die there.Abdelrahman is one of thousands of traumatized children I've met in my nearly four decades of reporting on conflicts. Certain faces are embedded in my memory. Figures underscore the sheer scale of the crisis. In 2024, 520 million children were living in conflict zones - one in every five children worldwide - according to an analysis by the Peace Research Institute Oslo.Experts warn that trauma can have lasting impacts on children's developing brains, affecting learning and behavior. This is particularly relevant considering the ongoing conflicts affecting children today in various regions including Gaza, Ukraine, and Sudan.Ultimately, effective recovery approaches must include stable living environments, emotional support for both the children and their caregivers, educational opportunities, and social interactions to foster resilience amidst chaos.
