For the civilian population, and particularly for the children, the experience of these wars has been horrific. Homes and villages have been bombed indiscriminately. Children have seen killings and destruction and lived in fear for months on end. Most have lost their homes and close family members, and lack any kind of ordered social environment. They have little trust in the ability of adults to protect them, suffer nightmares, and have an acute fear of noise and darkness.
Flashbacks disturb their days, bedwetting, frequently, their nights.
Many are unable to focus and have a very short attention span. Teachers are at a loss to know how to relate to them. All are grieving and often experience strong feelings of guilt about not having prevented distressing events. Many, too, are angry and frustrated and unable to understand or come to terms with what has occured. The loss of trust in adult behaviour has made them take on adult roles, a process that contributes to the further break-up of family life.