Others are so malnourished and traumatized they detach emotionally from the world and people around them, causing them to become vacant and making it impossible for them to interact with their families,” UNICEF worker in Yemen. You can hear them whimpering, it’s not a usual cry but a cold, weak whimper. “Some of the young children we see shake with fear, uncontrollably, for hours on end.Over time, stress chemicals break down existing neural connections and inhibit new ones from forming, leading to lasting consequences for children’s learning, behaviour, and physical and mental health.Įxamples of the impact of conflict on babies and young children – given by UNICEF staff working in conflict zones – include: When young children experience prolonged or repeated adverse and traumatic events, the brain’s stress management system is activated without relief causing ‘toxic stress’. Along with the immediate, obvious dangers, the long-term impacts of such a start in life are potentially catastrophic.” Millions of families lack access to nutritious food, safe water, sanitation, or a secure and healthy environment to grow and bond. "In countries around the world, violent conflict has severely limited access to essential services for parents and their babies. “Every parent should be able to cherish their baby’s first moments, but for the millions of families living through conflict, the reality is far bleaker,” said UNICEF Executive Director Henrietta Fore. NEW YORK, 20 September 2019 – More than 29 million babies were born into conflict-affected areas in 2018, UNICEF said today.Īrmed violence across countries including Afghanistan, Somalia, South Sudan, Syria and Yemen meant that, throughout last year, more than 1 in 5 babies globally spent their earliest moments in communities affected by the chaos of conflict, often in deeply unsafe, and highly stressful environments.
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