Economic hardship can also force children to become soldiers. Many children may join the armed forces if they feel that it is the only way they can guarantee regular meals or clothing. In fact, parents may encourage their daughters to become soldiers if their prospects for marriage are poor. However, girls are often forced to provide a sexual service for male soldiers. Much of today's armed conflict occurs in some of the world's poorest countries which face political and economic instability.
War simply increases the hardship on children and families struggling to gain basic foods.
Armies may block crucial food supplies or destroy crops. The result is deteriorating levels of health and malnutrition, which also leaves children open to further threat of disease. War and armed conflict forces people to flee their homes to survive. In such situations, children are often separated from their families. Sometimes parents will deliberately 'lose' their children in the hope that others will be able to care for them better than they can.