CIDA Photo: Bruce Paton

-- Sanel, age 12, who lost an arm to a shell in Mostar, Bosnia.

In times of war, children witness and experience terrible atrocities. Their worlds are shattered by physical, sexual and emotional violence. Their homes are destroyed. Their communities are splintered. Their trust in adults breaks down.

Each child is affected differently by armed conflict. A child's response depends on his or her age, gender, personality type, personal and family history, cultural background and experience, as well as the type and length of the conflict. The stress of conflict can cause increased fear of separation from others, delayed development, sleep disturbances, nightmares, decreased appetite, withdrawn behaviour, and a lack of interest in play. Younger children can have learning difficulties, and older children and teenagers can show anxious or aggressive behaviour and depression.

Psychosocial support is an essential part of a child's recovery from the trauma of war. It is also essential to their growth and continued development. Psychosocial support helps children recover by creating a sense of purpose, self-esteem, identity and security. These programs help children feel normal again through daily routines such as going to school, preparing food, washing clothes and working. Activities like play, sports, drawing and storytelling help stimulate their minds and emotions. It is also important for children to participate in planning community based relief, recovery and reconstruction programs. This makes the programs more relevant to children and helps rebuild their trust in adults.

• Experience has shown that with supportive caregivers and secure communities, most children affected by conflict will be able to find a sense of healing.
• Recovery programs need to understand and incorporate local cultures and traditions - for example cleansing ceremonies for rape victims - to be effective.
• In situations where families have few resources, residential centres that offer food, health and education services may indirectly cause the separation of children from their families. While centres can provide material needs, they cannot provide the long-term love and nurturing children need.
• Careless interventions and interviews by humanitarian workers, journalists and other people can lead children to relive the worst moments of their lives. This will leave children feeling upset and vulnerable.

1. Psychosocial support must be a central part of child protection in all phases of emergency and reconstruction.
2. Governments, donors and relief organizations should make reuniting children and their families a priority.
3. Support for children with special needs, such as child soldiers, should take place as part of the reintegration programs for all war-affected children. Agencies and communities should realize that girls have unique issues and require special protection.
4. Psychosocial programs should involve a range of people, including government ministries, donors, UN agencies, NGOs, other civil society groups, teachers, health professionals, children and families.

Psychosocial Effects = a combination of the psychological and social effects of a situation on an individual; in this case, the effect of armed conflict.
Psychological Effects = those which affect emotions, behaviour, thoughts, memory, learning ability, perceptions and understanding.
Social Effects = those which change relationships with other people. Relationships changed due to death, separation, estrangement and other losses, family and community breakdown, damage to social values and customs, and the destruction of social facilities and services. Social effects are also economic, as many people and families are forced into poverty by conflict.
NGO = NGO stands for Non-Governmental Organization. An NGO is a private group or organization that provides humanitarian aid. They may work with government agencies, but they are not part of the government.