Content warning: this article includes details about the impact of conflict on children in war zones and descriptions of injuries that some readers may find distressing.
The first thing was that Abdelrahman's dad was killed. The family home was struck by an Israeli air strike. The boy's mum, Asma al-Nashash, remembers that they brought him out in pieces. Then, on 16 July 2024, an air strike hit the school in Nuseirat, central Gaza. Eleven-year-old Abdelrahman was seriously wounded, and doctors had to amputate his leg. His mental state deteriorated; he started pulling his hair and hitting himself, displaying signs akin to depression.
When I meet him at a hospital in Jordan in May 2025, he is withdrawn and wary, sharing, We will die there regarding a return to Gaza. This experience embodies the trauma experienced by countless children amidst war. With more than 520 million children currently living in conflict zones globally, experts describe this as the largest humanitarian disaster since World War II, asserting that the ramifications of such traumas can last a lifetime, affecting mental health and development.
We also consider the broader implications of trauma, such as the impact on families and societies, and the urgent need for support systems that can help these children rebuild their lives amidst ongoing conflicts. As the world grapples with the consequences of war, the necessity of safeguarding the mental well-being of children affected by conflict has never been greater.
The first thing was that Abdelrahman's dad was killed. The family home was struck by an Israeli air strike. The boy's mum, Asma al-Nashash, remembers that they brought him out in pieces. Then, on 16 July 2024, an air strike hit the school in Nuseirat, central Gaza. Eleven-year-old Abdelrahman was seriously wounded, and doctors had to amputate his leg. His mental state deteriorated; he started pulling his hair and hitting himself, displaying signs akin to depression.
When I meet him at a hospital in Jordan in May 2025, he is withdrawn and wary, sharing, We will die there regarding a return to Gaza. This experience embodies the trauma experienced by countless children amidst war. With more than 520 million children currently living in conflict zones globally, experts describe this as the largest humanitarian disaster since World War II, asserting that the ramifications of such traumas can last a lifetime, affecting mental health and development.
We also consider the broader implications of trauma, such as the impact on families and societies, and the urgent need for support systems that can help these children rebuild their lives amidst ongoing conflicts. As the world grapples with the consequences of war, the necessity of safeguarding the mental well-being of children affected by conflict has never been greater.
