The destruction of educational and economic infrastructure creates conditions of poverty, which may last for generations. Poor mental health of caregivers may negatively affect children’s physical and mental health, as well as their educational attainment and life opportunities. Experiences of trauma affect children’s mental health, as well as that of their caregivers. During flight, children may become separated from their families and are more vulnerable to infections, psychological trauma, and exploitation. The destruction of medical and public health infrastructure make it difficult to treat affected children by limiting both access and quality of available care.Ĭonflicts force children and families to leave their homes to seek safety within national borders (internal displacement) and across international borders-nearly two-thirds of the 28 million forcibly displaced children are internally displaced.
Inadequate living conditions, environmental hazards, such as damaged buildings and unexploded ordnance, and lack of access to safe water and sanitation place children at risk for preventable and treatable diseases and injuries. A complex set of political, social, economic, and environmental factors resulting from conflicts have indirect and lasting effects on children. The direct effects of combat on child health may include injury, illness, psychological trauma, and death. Even the number of children directly or indirectly affected by conflict remains unclear.
Although this impact has been anecdotally chronicled in news reports and literature, there is limited medical and public health research on how conflict affects on child physical health and development. Definitions of armed conflict and conflict intensity.Ĭhildren who are exposed either directly or indirectly to armed conflict suffer harm that persists across their life course and beyond, to subsequent generations born after the conflict has ended.
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