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“Children do not start wars, and they do not have the power to end wars,
but they are the ones who suffer the most.”Catherine Russell
Although we have become desensitized to war, with daily reports of devastating bomb explosions in the Middle East, Ukraine and other regions, have we ever noticed that, behind the headlines, an entire world populated by innocent children may also be destroyed?
Therefore, to raise world awareness regarding the magnitude of suffering and trauma experienced by children orphaned by war, SOS Enfants en Detresses, a French organization, has introduced World War Orphans Day which is celebrated every day 6th January.
This cruel war was waged to overcome the geographic and political objectives of the ruling parties, claiming the lives of innocent people, leaving them homeless, destroying their natural lifestyle, forcing them to flee, and causing trauma that will last for many years. generation. For example, the Hiroshima Nagasaki bombing incident that occurred in 1945 still has an impact on the lives of innocent humans, even those who have never witnessed World War II.
In every war, women and children are considered to be the part of society that suffers the most or is most vulnerable. They become widows or orphans and have to spend the rest of their lives without the sense of security and protection they experienced before the war. According to UNICEF, almost a quarter of the world’s children live in countries affected by conflict or disaster. These children may lose their families, their freedom, their access to education and health care, almost any sense of normalcy in their childhood.
Imagine a small child who usually plays with his siblings or parents having to witness their tragic death themselves. Most children in conflict areas see their parents or siblings die in front of them, this causes indescribable trauma in their pure and innocent minds that are only used to seeing the beauty of the world.
The psychological, social and physical impacts of war on orphans are irreparable. The majority of orphaned children tend to live with their parents, grandparents, or other surviving family members (aunts or uncles) or in orphanages, where they have to face very poor living conditions. Many cases of violence against children, discrimination, abuse and problems such as malnutrition are reported in this situation. The pure hearts of little children have to suffer from excruciating pain that even they cannot bear. Children orphaned by war experience psychological problems such as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), depression, anxiety, and self-isolation which causes some to never manage to return to living a normal, healthy life.
The impact of this war shows the importance of supporting innocent children by providing psychological, social and physical assistance. Organizations such as UNICEF, the Red Cross, and various NGOs have been actively involved in supporting war orphans to improve their welfare. SOS Children’s Villages is involved in providing permanent family homes, education, and health services to children who have lost their families and homes.
Therefore, World War Orphans Day raises awareness about the plight of children orphaned by war by highlighting the psychological, social, and physical obstacles that children experience as they grow up. Additionally, it highlights the importance of the general public being empathetic when reintegrating orphaned children into society. By educating society about the impact of war on orphans, we can uplift and empower the hearts of the innocent. Thus, “Violence against children, who are the most vulnerable among us, must end.”
