Their suffering took new dimensions during the current year
The conditions of children in conflict hotspots in the Middle East are getting worse
The inability of children to reach schools due to the Corona pandemic has affected their psychological conditions.
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Palestinian children are still suffering from the practices of the occupation forces.
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The developments in armed conflict hotspots in the countries of the Middle East during the year 2020 imposed direct repercussions on the conditions of children, from different angles, most notably the assault on educational facilities, depriving children of education in them, deformation as a result of the explosion of mines and random projectiles in residential neighborhoods crowded with children, and exposure to violence Sexual and forced recruitment, which can be explained based on several factors, namely: the collapse of the level of health and education services, due to their targeting by the parties to the conflict, the increasing repercussions of the "Covid-19" pandemic, armed militias' violation of children's rights, and the suffering of Palestinian children in the prisons of the Israeli occupation And the weakness of psychological rehabilitation to contain the repercussions of the post-conflict.
Lost Generations
Many international organizations and national committees have begun to monitor and analyze children's problems in geographical areas, including the Middle East and North Africa, during the last period, which coincides with the celebrations of the International Children's Day, which falls on December 20.
Although the problems of children in conflict zones in the region are not a new phenomenon, they have new dimensions and increased intensity in 2020 compared to previous years.
The dimensions of the vulnerability of children in conflict hotspots in the region, according to international, international, regional and national reports indicate the following:
1 The collapse of the level of health and education services
All the hotbeds of armed conflicts in Libya, Yemen and Syria suffer from the collapse of the services system, especially for children, as buildings and educational institutions collapsed, and medicines and vaccinations are not available in hospitals and health centers, which may affect the health and safety of children, especially from the psychological point of view, as some writings refer to The conflict field situation reflected on children to simulate scenes of violence and embody the characters of "warlords", especially in light of regional, tribal, regional and ethnic conflicts.
Here it is worth noting the multiple impacts that civilians in conflict zones suffer, including children, although the Yemeni case is more severe, due to the practices of the Houthi rebel militia.
On November 20, the Secretary-General of the United Nations, Antonio Guterres, said that “Yemen is in imminent danger from the worst famine the world has seen in decades,” warning that “if no immediate action is taken, millions of lives could be lost.” Especially children.
2 The increasing repercussions of the "Covid-19" pandemic
The situation has worsened for children in hotbeds of armed conflict after the rapid spread of the pandemic, the disruption of schools and the closure of nurseries, which caused a decline in their mental health, and even the emergence of a lost generation.
In this context, a recent report by the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) - which came under the title "The Future of an Entire Generation at Risk" on November 18, and was based on surveys from 140 countries - warned of the repercussions imposed by the second wave of "Covid-19" Regarding four dimensions, they are: the direct consequences of the disease itself, the disruption of basic services, the increase in poverty, and inequality.
In this context, the director of the "UNICEF", Henrietta Fore, points to "a myth that has persisted since the spread of (Covid-19), that children are the least affected age groups by the epidemic, but this is not true. Rather, these children can transmit the virus. To the older age groups, especially in light of the decline in health care services and severe malnutrition in some countries, including hotbeds of conflict and war points in the Middle East, sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia ».
Here it is worth noting the statement issued by the United Nations on June 15, 2020, which alerted the risk of the death of more than 51,000 additional children under five in the Middle East and North Africa at the end of 2020, due to problems on more than one level, brought about by confronting the Corona virus, As it led to imbalances in health care and food directed to children.
3 Armed militias violate children's rights
The Human Rights Office in the Yemeni capital, Sanaa, reported on November 21 that the Houthi rebel militia committed 24,488 violations against the capital’s children during the period from November 2019 to November 2020. He added that “Militia violations against children included cases of murder, kidnapping, physical assault, forcible recruitment, and looting. And the storming of health and educational institutions, and the establishment of sectarian activities and events, ”as appeared during the“ closed ”hearings for children victims of human rights violations during the armed conflict.
4 The suffering of Palestinian children in the prisons of the Israeli occupation
Palestinian children still suffer from the practices of the occupation forces, which was expressed by the Palestinian Minister of Social Development, Dr. Ahmed Majdalani, on November 21, saying: “International Children's Day bears witness to the suffering of Palestinian children under occupation, which is still, despite all the circumstances it is going through. The world arrests about 170 children in its prisons. ”Majdalani held the occupation responsible for their lives in light of the spread of" Covid-19 ".
He added: “International Children's Day reminds us of the responsibility of the international community and international organizations to advocate for Palestinian children, protect their rights, and actively and real pressure on the Israeli occupation government to adhere to international conventions calling for respect for children's rights, the immediate release of all Palestinian children detained in its prisons, and the cessation of racist practices. And the repeated violations of the right of childhood in the Palestinian territories », calling on the international community to shoulder its responsibilities also towards the children of Jerusalem, and the violations they are exposed to, whether from the Israeli occupation or from the settlers.
5 Poor psychological rehabilitation to contain the repercussions of the post-conflict
Children are among the groups that suffer most from the conflicts in the countries of the region, in a way that makes them more in need of rehabilitation and recovery in the post-silence stage.
In a statement published by the London-based newspaper Al-Sharq Al-Awsat on November 23, the Libyan Committee for Human Rights called for “paying attention to the mental health file, and the impact of war, armed conflict and displacement on children,” and stressed the need to provide rehabilitation centers and programs that address post-crisis crises. Conflict.
The Committee also called on the Ministry of Social Affairs to pay attention to children, regardless of their legal status, as well as the need for the Anti-Illegal Migration Agency to search for a solution to detain migrant children, especially those unaccompanied, and to work on urgent alternatives, such as transferring them to social care homes for children, and cooperation With local and international organizations working to bring them together with their families.
In a related context, UNICEF said on November 21: “348,000 children in Libya need urgent humanitarian assistance due to the repercussions of the armed conflict, political and economic crises, and the Covid-19 pandemic,” pointing out that they are “severely exposed to violence, exploitation and trafficking. Gender-based violence, recruitment by armed groups and unlawful detention ”.
Multiple violations
Children represent the weakest link in conflict hotspots in the Middle East region, and have been subjected to multiple violations as a result of their killing in military confrontations, and their disfigurement due to indiscriminate strikes in densely populated residential areas, and they were harmed by the lack of health and educational care, especially after the spread of "Covid-19", and their displacement to environments Relatively safer geography, in addition to the denial of humanitarian access provided by relief agencies, adding to this the greater challenge related to the absence of placing children at the center of conflict resolution and settlement processes.
However, there are positive and effective roles that some countries play in the region, as expressed by the Emirati delegation through the technique of visual communication before the annual debate held by the Security Council on June 24th on “Children and Armed Conflict,” where the statement issued by the delegation said: “ Children have long struggled to obtain health services and meet their basic needs, including access to education, and weak social protection systems for children encourage armed groups to recruit and sexualize children.
Children are among the most suffering groups in the conflicts in the countries of the region, in a way that makes them more in need of rehabilitation and recovery.
The conditions have worsened for children in hotbeds of armed conflict after the rapid spread of the pandemic, the disruption of schools and the closure of nurseries, which caused a decline in their mental health, and even the emergence of a lost generation.
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