When we look at ongoing conflicts between nations or peoples, one of the most distressing realities is that most wars have been fought in precisely those countries that could least afford them. Consequences of these conflicts mainly affect civilians and effects can be felt long after the discord is over. Among the effects that conflicts have on civilians some of the most horrific consequences are on children because of their vulnerability and young age. Even if children have never seen a gun, millions of children suffer from wars, as resources that could have been invested in development are diverted into armaments. In the last decade only, more than 2 million children have been killed, 6 million wounded, and one million orphaned (UNHCR, 2001).
Speaking directly of the horrors of war, we encounter the destruction of infrastructure and of normal day-to-day living conditions, death of loved ones, famine, sickness, displacement from family and loved ones, rape, and recruitment as child soldiers. Additionally, the use of landmines in these war torn regions makes the consequences of war that more serious in that long after the conflict is over, the destruction and danger remains. The relationship between war and famine can be clearly understood by children. Famine speaks directly to the horrors and the consequences of armed conflicts. The consequences are even worse when the conflict is that of a civil war. The farmers cannot sow the seeds, nor can they harvest the crops because they are either needed in the war front, or it is too dangerous to maintain and harvest them. Also, if they are allowed to harvest their goods, they can seldom be brought to the market. There are many examples of famine and starvation due to armed conflicts. To mention a few we have Mozambique, Ethiopia, Sudan, and Somalia in the 1990s.
Although the number of conflicts around the world has diminished in quantity, still too many people are being affected by direct and indirect consequences of war. According to the UNHCR, there are approximately 50 million refugees and people displaced. Of the total number 22.3 million of these people are under the care of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees. Among the displaced within their own country half of them are children. At any one point there maybe up to 100,000 separated children in Western Europe alone.
"We walked for days, for months, thousands of miles. We slept on the ground and often had to eat leaves to survive. People shot at us. Many boys were killed. What happened to my parents? I don't know. But now we are here, to a new life. And I have seen snow for the first time."
A "Lost Boy" from Sudan resettled in the U.S. (Youth Ambassadors for Peace,2001).
Additional consequences of war on children are:
The recruitment through coercion and kidnapping to become child soldiers and sexual slaves. The UNHCR estimates that there are more than 300,000 youths and girls, under the age of 18, who are currently serving as child soldiers. Not only are they recruited forcibly, but technological advances have made it easier for children to operate the weapons since they are now lighter and easy enough for a 10-year-old to use. Additionally, children are more obedient, easier to enlist, and also more dispensable. Often they are also used as "human shields" on the frontlines and even in suicide missions. As with almost every other aspect of war, long after hostilities cease, these children have extreme difficulties integrating back into their communities.
They gave me training. They gave me a gun. I took drugs. I killed civilians. Lots. It was just war, what I did then. I only took orders. I knew it was bad. It was not my wish.
A child soldier in Sierra Leone (UNHCR, 2001).
Thus, effects of wars are felt long after hostilities have ceased among warring factions. These effects are both emotional and physical. As an example, in Rwanda, 45,000 households are headed by children. In some conflicts like in Mozambique between 1980-90, schools, teachers, and children were direct targets with 45% of the schools being destroyed. Also, because of the use of landmines, children in almost 90 countries live in danger of death or maining. There are an estimated 60 million landmines that even after the conflict is long over, keep affecting civilian populations, and especially children. In Sierra Leone 70% of the students do not attend school because of the danger due to landmines. There, 2 million died in the last decade as direct consequences of armed conflict.