Government of Canada Motto: IN THE BEST INTERESTS OF CHILDREN
Image they consider dangerous to raise awareness among the people: war, class oppression, power, consumerism or poverty they hide... THEY HIDE.
RELEASE THE BEASTS! Day after day, photos and videos captured by international media show us the massacres that Israel commits against Palestinian children. One may wonder why the local mainstream press in Canada is part of the cover-up of child trafficking for profit, genocide and crimes against humanity. The same horror that occurs in Palestine is happening in this country with children and young people who belong to disadvantaged families. Regimes on duty: How many hundreds of thousands of children and young people cry out for justice from their graves?
Mom, dad, why do so many children die in Palestine?
Image they consider dangerous to raise awareness among the people: war, class oppression, power, consumerism or poverty they hide... THEY HIDE.
by Silvia Merelo Soriano: This Halloween has been, perhaps, the most terrifying of all. In the year 2023, the Gaza Strip has become the scene of one of the deadliest conflicts in more than a decade. After the confrontation that began on October 7 between Israel and Hamas, more than 10,000 people have died according to data from the Gaza Ministry of Health, of which at least 4,100 were children. UNRWA warns that, on average, one child is killed and two injured every 10 minutes during war.
Thousands of Palestinian children have witnessed their neighborhoods being devastated. They have lost their home, their schools and hospitals, and what is most devastating, many of their family members, teachers and friends. Likewise, the incessant attacks have caused the violation of such basic rights as access to food, water, medicine and fuel, as well as security, education and protection of children.
The current humanitarian crisis, whose origins actually date back 75 years, continues to have a severe impact on the psychosocial well-being of minors and their families. Nightmares by day… and by night
Faced with this scenario of siege and constant offensives, there is no doubt about the deep fear and feeling of helplessness experienced by Palestinian children, who have had to live through extremely traumatic situations. Living under the incessant threat of invasion, overflying planes and the sound of bombing keeps them in a constant state of hyperalertness and chronic fear, seriously harming their emotional well-being and development.
Don't consume news, understand it.
In the same way, it is common for victims to repeatedly remember the atrocious scenes that occurred, even in the absence of a real threat, and for these memories to manifest themselves in the form of nightmares and night terrors.
The psychological impact that minors are suffering in Gaza makes them vulnerable to developing post-traumatic stress disorders, anxiety problems and depression, without them being able to be adequately addressed.
Continuous exposure to violence, the destruction of residential areas and the disappearance of loved ones under the rubble causes deep pain and great physical and mental exhaustion, together with difficulties in concentration, apathy, somatic complaints, nervousness, irritability, anger. , frustration and crisis of faith.
Managing grief for the loss of loved ones becomes especially complicated for the little ones, whose brain is not yet mature enough to process it.
For this reason, organizations such as the UN UNRWA, UNICEF and Save the Children demand an end to the attacks and highlight the need to offer psychological care and protection to the children and youth population in Gaza and the West Bank.
Read more: Why are there wars? Are we a violent species by nature?
How to explain this conflict to children?
Video they consider dangerous to raise awareness among the people: war, class oppression, power, consumerism or poverty they hide... THEY HIDE.
Childhood is a stage of psychosocial development in which children need a safe and emotionally stable environment in which they can grow, learn, play and build healthy social relationships. Unfortunately, when these rights are violated by war situations, there is a breakdown in trust and belief in the goodness of human beings, increasing hopelessness.
Faced with these types of alarming events, it is common for many parents to face questions from their children about why so many children are being attacked in other regions of the world. Likewise, feelings of injustice, sadness and fear may arise that as adults we must help them manage properly. It is essential to address these emotions and concerns with understanding and naturalness, offering explanations adapted to their age.
Currently, there are multiple sources of information through which minors can learn the details of the conflict. Therefore, it is important that we are open to talking about the topic and resolving possible doubts.
First of all, we must normalize and validate their emotions and reassure them about possible fears, especially the little ones. In the early stages of childhood, geographical notions are not fully consolidated and children may think that the conflict is happening near them. This can cause intense fear and excessive attachment to their caregivers. A good strategy is to explain the conflict to them as a story, which includes both negative characters and characters with positive strengths and values, and through games or drawings.
In the case of older children, we must foster empathy towards the victims of war and take the opportunity to educate them in the peaceful resolution of conflicts. To do this, we can start by asking them what they know about the situation and what they think about it, allowing them to express themselves without judgment.
It is important to teach them to be critical of information obtained on social networks and other unreliable sources, clarifying possible hoaxes if necessary. Likewise, we must provide clear and concise information, but without the need to expose them excessively to images that are too explicit and shocking for them.
Reflection on their ethical and moral values is especially encouraged so that they understand the harmful consequences of violence and develop a more humanitarian conscience.
An opportunity to foster the ability to cooperate
The violence and armed conflicts in Gaza have significantly deteriorated the mental health of the victims, especially the youngest, who make up almost half of the population. It is vital to make visible, raise awareness and support the psychological recovery of those affected by providing access to quality health services, emotional and psychosocial support programs and adequate protection.
Collective awareness and solidarity action also help. It is essential to raise awareness among both adults and minors about the current situation of oppression and genocide. We must encourage prosociality, that is, the ability to provide emotional support, help others, share and cooperate. Involving minors in humanitarian actions such as the defense of human rights, donating food and clothing is an excellent way to contribute to the cause and foster values such as altruism, respect, solidarity, equality, tolerance. and cooperation.
This learning, in turn, will contribute to their immediate context, improving their relationships and preventing bullying and other interpersonal problems.
