06/11/2024
Children in Jeopardy: Lessons learned from the Middle East Conflict!
By Professor Joseph HADDAD President Elect of the International Pediatric Association Lebanon
Our children are in danger, and the world is watching. Every day, innocent lives are lost or irreparably harmed because we haven't done enough to protect them. Children are caught in the crossfire of wars they didn't start. This is the story of three children living nearby separated by a thin border sharing the blue sky which used to be a peaceful, endless blue, the land of their ancestors , the hate and the abhorrence of their peers.
Zahra a little girl, no older than 7, grasping tightly a worn-out doll as the sound of gunfire echoes nearby. Her eyes are wide with fear, her tiny body trembling from the cold and hunger. She doesn't understand why her world is falling apart, why the adults around her can't keep her safe. All she knows is fear. She left her home with her family riding over the streets to an unknown destination.
Omar was only eight years old when his world changed forever. He remembered the peaceful mornings in his village—the smell of fresh bread his mother would bake, the laughter of his friends as they played soccer in the dusty streets, and the warmth of his father’s voice as he told stories of their ancestors by the fire. Life, even though simple, felt full of love and safety. But everything changed one night. “Omar, we must go, now!”. Pulled out of his bed, he joined with his family a long line of people heading to an uncertain future.
Both Zahra and Omar reached a refuge crowded and noisy, filled with people who lost their homes. Shelters denied from basic and elementary needs: no electricity, no water, no toilet, no bathroom even no mattresses, a catastrophic scene that shocked them, waiting in vain warmth and assurance from their parents ….. “I want to go home,” both shouted loudly!
Aaron, 8 years old has for the first time heard an air-raid siren that had become later a part of his life. He wasn’t sure exactly when the war began. The sudden, loud wail made him freeze in place. His heart raced, and his hands trembled. His mother rushed into the room, scooping him up in her arms as she called for his sister to follow. They ran into the shelter, the door slamming shut behind them. Aaron’s father, who wasn’t home at the time, called from work to make sure they were safe. But even in the shelter, Aaron could hear the distant booms as the rockets hit the ground, sometimes intercepted by the Iron Dome, but sometimes not.
However, Despite being from three neighborhood regions, Zahra, Aaron and Omar expressed the same feelings:
Confusion: why the war is happening, and this confusion adds to their anxiety. Why this cruelty between people that share the same GOD, why this ancestral hate that goes beyond Rights and Dignity of human being. Their beliefs of a peaceful religion are questionable now! They are severely shaken by those events.
Fear: Indeed, the constant threat of violence and the uncertainty of life has left them feeling scared of losing their families their friend and their land.
Loneliness: Despite being surrounded by other children they feel isolated. Their world has been turned upside down, and they feel like no one truly understands the depth of their pain. The familiar faces of their villages, town, streets are gone, and even though they meet new friends, they are all struggling with their own losses.
Hope: they dream of a future where they can return home, where they can see their families, friends, and where the war is just a distant memory. This hope is what keeps them going, even when the days feel long and heavy with sadness.
But Zahra, Omar and Aaron are not aware about the deleterious effects of this war on their entire life. Nurturing them is unfortunately messed by their environment. Now with the Epigenetic waves that shape their phenotype, they may end up in a worried situation. The impacts of the war span across their mental, physical, social, and economic dimensions, often shaping the course of their entire lives and the future generation. Even though epigenetic factors may disappear along with forthcoming pregnancies, still there is chance to transmit over generation some of bad behavior and cognition.
Zahra, Omar and Aaron are subjected to the deleterious effects of the war mentioned hereby:
1. Psychological Trauma and Mental Health
One of the most immediate and devastating effects of war on children is the psychological trauma that results from exposure to violence, death, and destruction e.g. Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, Anxiety and Depression, Attachment Issues and Developmental Delays.
2. Disruption of Education
War often forces children to abandon their education, leading to a ripple effect that impacts their future, e.g. School Closures, Interrupted Learning, Lack of Educational Resources and Impact on Future Opportunities.
3. Physical Harm and Health Issues
War exposes children to physical danger, both directly and indirectly, e.g. Injury and Death, Malnutrition, Disease and Child Soldiers.
4. Displacement and Refugee Crises
War frequently forces families to flee their homes, resulting in displacement and refugee crises that have severe consequences for children, e.g. Loss of Home and Community, Lack of Access to Basic Needs, Statelessness and Social Isolation.
5. Loss of Family and Social Structures
War often tears apart families and disrupts the social fabric that children depend on for security and guidance, e.g. Orphan hood, Disrupted Social Networks, Cultural and Identity Crisis.
6. Economic Impact and Poverty
The long-term economic consequences of war can trap children and future generations in cycles of poverty, e.g. Loss of Livelihoods, Child Labor and Generational Poverty.
7. Exposure to Violence and Normalization of Conflict
Children who grow up in war zones are often desensitized to violence, which can have long-term effects on their worldview and behavior, e.g. Normalization of Violence, Aggression and Behavioral Issues and Cycle of Violence.
8. Impact on Future Generations
The effects of war don’t stop with the children directly affected; they ripple through future generations.
Addressing these impacts requires not only immediate humanitarian aid but also long-term investments in mental health, education, and peacebuilding to ensure that children and future generations have the support they need to heal and rebuild.
Lessons learned from the story of those three adorable children warrant a Call for Action. Nevertheless, can we wave the Deep-Rooted Historical Grievances and Conflicts, the Political Power, the Authoritarian Regimes, the Economic Interests and Resources, the Profit from War, the looting and Pillaging, the Ethnic, Religious, and Ideological Divisions, the International Involvement and Geopolitics, and so many other factors that are unfortunately uncontrollable. I DOUBT REALLY!
However, as a Pediatrician, war is a heartbreaking contradiction. On one hand, I am driven by the deep commitment to protect and care for children, to heal the innocent. On the other, I am confronted with the overwhelming destruction of young lives, the helplessness of not being able to save everyone, and the anger at a world that allows such suffering.
Yet, even in the midst of this tragedy, we Pediatricians often find moments of hope and resilience. It is the small victories—the life saved, the child comforted, the family reunited—that keep us going. Through our compassion, determination, and unwavering commitment, we serve as a reminder that even in the darkest times, there is still humanity, love, and the possibility for healing. We are here to Ensure Rights and Dignity for every child every age and everywhere. Let’s Keep walking and not giving up. The world is not safe for our children, together we will lighten the way for a brighter future.
