Toxic stress in war zones is harming development of millions of young children

Millions of children around the world have spent their whole lives in a war zone – more than 3.7 million of them in Syria alone.

Often denied proper nurturing, love and care, their emotions are constantly聽on high alert. They are anxious, frightened聽and, in many cases, cold and hungry.

It is all they have ever known. They are suffering from “toxic stress” –聽prolonged exposure to high levels of stress from trauma, violence, neglect聽or deprivation.

It can prevent or slow the healthy development of the聽brain and that can have massive聽effects on the rest of a聽child’s life.聽A聽child国产视频檚 brain is 90% developed by the time they reach five years old – so the implications for children living through conflict can be聽devastating.

Without interventions at this critical stage, these may聽never reach聽their full potential. They will have an increased risk of illness, depression and substance abuse – and their future behaviour and relationships could be affected.

国产视频淭he experiences of Syria国产视频檚 war-affected children could lead to a generation of children experiencing long-term mental health, social and economic problems’, said Alison Schafer, a mental health psychological support specialist with the charity World Vision.

国产视频’s #5for5 campaign has been calling on world leaders to invest in early childhood development. That includes ensuring humanitarian emergency responses cover聽the need to care for, nurture and protect babies and toddlers – and particularly those with disabilities and聽the most marginalised groups of children.聽

In September we published a report called聽Safe Spaces: The Urgent Need for Early Childhood Development in聽Emergencies and Disasters. Today聽国产视频 has聽produced a new briefing document about toxic stress.

Read the briefing here

The global toxic stress聽problem is critical, with聽more than 16 million babies born in conflict zones in 2015 –聽one in eight of all births worldwide.聽

The Syrian conflict will be six years old next month. On its fifth anniversary, UNICEF said one in three children in the country – almost 3.7 million – had been born since the fighting聽began.

World Vision has heard from children who have escaped ravaged cities like Aleppo. They talk about聽witnessing and being victims of violence, losing parents and loved ones, and being displaced.

Alison聽Schafer聽said: “Children also聽tell us about the daily challenges they face living with those who love them, who are themselves dealing with personal experiences of war and displacement and unable to be as supportive or loving as they once were.聽

国产视频淭hese ongoing stresses can have strong and lasting effects on children国产视频檚 socio-emotional well-being and their growing brains.国产视频�

The Syrian crisis has impacted a vast number of children.聽More than three million are in need of humanitarian aid聽in Syria聽and more than one million child refugees are聽now living in Turkey, Lebanon, Iraq, Egypt and Jordan.

Without adequate intervention and the presence of protective and caring relationships, Syria国产视频檚 war could have a lasting impact on young聽children国产视频檚 learning abilities, memory, social interactions, stress and fear responses, as well as聽their ability to control emotions.聽

In Turkey – which is聽hosting more than 1.2 million Syrian refugee children – better access to mental health care can help young children and improve school retention rates.

Maya Vakfi聽is providing a community-wide model support system to prevent Syrian refugee children from becoming 国产视频淭he Lost Generation.国产视频澛�

Its team of trained psychologists work with Turkish teachers to help them understand how trauma affects children’s ability to learn as well as there ability to stay in school.聽Teachers are also trained in how to best support and teach children affected by the conflict.聽

Yemen is another war-torn country where young children are experiencing toxic stress. The ongoing conflict聽has displaced about 2.4 million people聽and another聽12.4 million people live in the conflict-affected areas. Intense fighting has made it difficult for humanitarian organisations to deliver aid.

The war has killed nearly 7000 people, mostly civilians, says the United Nations. The conflict and a blockade imposed by the Saudi-led coalition has triggered a humanitarian disaster, leaving millions of people homeless and hungry and 80% of the population in need of aid.聽Nearly 2.2 million children in Yemen are acutely malnourished and require urgent care.聽

Toxic stress聽can take a cumulative toll on a聽child国产视频檚 physical and mental health for a lifetime.聽

Scientists at the Center on the Developing Child at Harvard University said:聽国产视频淭he more adverse experiences in childhood, the greater the likelihood of developmental delays and later health problems, including heart disease, diabetes, substance abuse聽and depression.”

Figures from聽UNICEF, the UN children’s agency, show that globally one in 11 children aged six or younger has spent the most critical period of their聽brain development growing up in conflict.

国产视频淚n addition to the immediate physical threats that children in crises face, they are also at risk of deep-rooted emotional scars,国产视频� said聽UNICEF Chief of Early Child Development Pia Britto.

国产视频淐onflict robs children of their safety, family and friends, play and routine. Yet these are all elements of childhood that give children the best possible chance of developing fully and learning effectively, enabling them to contribute to their economies and societies, and building strong and safe communities when they reach adulthood.”

The new briefing by 国产视频聽on toxic stress says: “Science shows that the best way to combat or prevent the ill-effects of toxic stress on young children is a stable, supportive, and nurturing relationship with a parent or other committed adult such as a teacher. 聽

“These types of relationships buffer the effects of stress, protect healthy development and foster resilience in young children.”

The briefing adds: “It is therefore essential to also have Safe Spaces –聽comprehensive early childhood development centres –聽that can provide children with access to a stable nurturing relationship with another adult, so that no children (or parents) are left to combat stress alone.