kyiv, Mariupol, Cherniguiv… The war in Ukraine is mainly taking place in the city, affecting many civilian populations.
Beyond the dead and injured, these urban conflicts cause serious damage to the mental health of the people concerned.
Management of stress, anxieties, traumas, many psychological care are also to be provided, as explained to
20 Minutes
Handicap international.
According to a UN report released on Wednesday, the war in Ukraine would have killed at least 1,150 civilians and injured 1,800.
A number most likely underestimated.
Beyond these “physical” victims, the war also wreaks havoc on the mental health of the Ukrainian population.
Anguish, stress, trauma, nervousness, the consequences of the bombings and fighting in the city have repercussions even on the inhabitants not directly affected.
An observation that applies to most modern conflicts: "There is an increasing urbanization of wars, whether in Syria, Iraq, Yemen", deplores Anne Héry, director of advocacy at Handicap International.
"The conflict in Ukraine, massively covered by the media, is a good illustration of this phenomenon: the names of towns are recited as the news unfolds, clashes rarely take place outside these areas".
Civilians increasingly affected
Bombing and shelling of civilian targets is strictly prohibited by international law.
However, by targeting certain military targets in the heart of cities, as Russia does, “these civilians inevitably end up in collateral damage.
Our studies show that when an explosive weapon is used in cities, nine out of ten victims are civilians”, supports the expert.
That's the problem with these weapons: they're either too inaccurate or too powerful – or both.
“Basically, this equipment is designed for open spaces, not for closed or semi-closed spaces.
They are incapable of not causing civilian casualties in their areas.
A multiple rocket launcher can hit several hectares,” says Anne Héry.
Handicap International will also bring a project to ban explosive weapons in urban areas at the beginning of April to the United Nations.
Damage to mental health
We see it in Ukraine: the battlefield can be located directly at the bottom of a building, so that "war becomes much more concrete for civilians, and with an increased psychological impact", supports Virginie Duclos, rehabilitation expert at Handicap International.
She is currently present in Ukraine to take care of the populations who are victims of the conflict, with particular importance given to their mental health: "We are doing more mental health operations than physical health at the moment", she testifies. .
On the program: psychosocial support, direct listening services, reception and secure spaces to release words.
“We find a real stress among the populations, a permanent anxiety and a feeling of never being safe.
Even if they are in unexposed areas, they know that war can happen at any time,” comments the member of the NGO.
Thousands of victims for how many traumatized?
The shock wave is therefore quasi-general.
“It's a much broader impact than just the direct victims, confirms Anne Héry.
There is the fear and the shock of seeing one's country attack, of the uncertain future, of wondering what tomorrow will bring.
Like attacks such as France has experienced recently, which can lead to dozens of deaths and millions of traumatized.
Not to mention the shock of having to leave home and city because of the war, as millions of Ukrainians have already done.
Anne Héry recalls: “We saw the impact on the displaced in Syria.
It is rarely a single displacement, but refugees who go from town to town in a state of extreme psychological vulnerability.
Entire populations are now traumatized, with in particular a lot of post-traumatic stress.
Virginie Duclos concludes: “None of the civilians chose to be there, and they suffer all this dehumanization and these wars.
Wars that spare them less and less”.
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War in Ukraine
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Mental Health
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