Children between the trauma of war and the painful reality

Yemen Children Platform - Osama Al-Sabai

In Yemen, where war and conflict have become a daily reality, children pay a heavy price as a result of repeated displacement and loss of stability. These children live difficult experiences that leave long-term psychological and social effects.

Amr Khaled, a ten-year-old boy, lives the harsh experience of displacement that has torn his stability and simple life apart as he moved repeatedly, with his family, in search of safety, moving between Sana'a and Marib to finally settle in Al-Suwayda camp north of the governorate. For him, displacement was not just a change of place, but a loss of everything he loved.

Amr says: "I miss my friends and playing with them. Now, I prefer to stay alone because I don't feel safe here."

His mother, Mrs. Fatima, says: "Since displacement, Amr has changed a lot and has become nervous and stubborn, and if someone shouts at him, he might wake up at night crying and walking around the house."

Even at school, Amr faces new challenges. He suffers from poor eyesight and is forced to wear glasses, which exposes him to bullying from his classmates. His mother adds: “He refused to wear glasses even though he needs them. I talked to the teachers and the administration to ease the pressure on him, and things improved a little, but some children deliberately bother him.”

For Ms. Fatima, displacement did not only mean they lost their home, but it also cast a heavy shadow over their entire lives: “We lost our sense of security. We used to live a simple but stable life, and now we are moving around without a clear destination.”

Fatima confirms that her children, especially Amr, are suffering psychologically, saying: “He was a quiet child who excelled in his studies, but now he refuses to interact with his new friends and finds it difficult to concentrate.”

Fatima refers to one visit by a Turkish team that provided games and recreational activities for the children in the camp: “It was a turning point. The children felt happy for a while, but we have not received any support since then.”

Despite everything, Amr still holds a simple hope: "I want the war to end and to return to our home and school. I want to live in safety and see Yemen well."

Psychologist Zamzam Rajih confirms that children living in conditions of war and displacement suffer from deep psychological trauma that negatively affects their daily lives and emotional development. The most prominent of these traumas include feelings of fear and anxiety, low self-confidence, poor academic performance, and introversion.

Rajih points out some signs that indicate that a child is suffering from psychological trauma, such as not wanting to go to school, difficulty integrating into society, nervousness, and excessive shyness.

She also explained that the psychological support provided in the camps is almost non-existent, pointing to the limited psychological activities and services dedicated to children in these environments, adding that "our children need education and psychological support to escape the cycle of war and deprivation."

According to the 2024 Humanitarian Needs Overview, the number of displaced people in Yemen has reached about 4.5 million people since the escalation of the war in 2015, including more than two million children. Statistics also show that more than 30% of displaced families are subject to multiple displacements, which increases psychological and social trauma, especially on children.