Save the Children calls for quick action to treat kids
Humanitarian group Save the Children has requested international donors to urgently increase support for mental health and psychosocial care for the children of Mosul. They are also asking the Government of Iraq to increase investment in training child psychologists and counsellors.
If Mosul’s children’s toxic stress is left untreated, it can cause damage to the brain’s architecture – leaving life-long impact on the children’s mental and physical health. This ultimately leads to increased instances of heart disease, depression, anxiety, diabetes and substance abuse.
“What was striking was how introverted and withdrawn children have become. They rarely even smiled. It was as though they had lost the ability to be children,” Dr Marcia Brophy, Save the Children’s Senior Mental Health Adviser for the Middle East, said.
“When we asked them what they liked about themselves, children often said things like ‘I’m quiet’, ‘I stay in a safe place’ or ‘I obey orders’. Their time under Isis, and making a life-or-death escape, has taken a truly terrible toll. These children are not going to heal in weeks, or even months. They’ll need support for years to come.”
Support from parents and family is vital to help children, yet the war has ripped many families apart.
85% say they’re beaten
Though, many parents are themselves psychologically affected by their experiences and are unable to provide comfort to their children. Domestic violence has increased in the camp as a result, with more than 85 per cent of children identifying being beaten — or seeing others beaten — as a major source of ongoing anger and sadness.
Save the Children said that psychological support for children and their parents is chronically underfunded, with programme needs for 2017 so far just 2 per cent funded. The total UN Humanitarian Response Plan for this year has less than half the funding it needs.
“Children escaping Mosul have gone through horror piled upon horror. They have been starved and abused inside the city. The impact on children is clear: even if they made it out alive they have been left scarred and broken. And right now, that’s what Mosul’s future looks like,” said Ana Locsin, Save the Children’s Iraq Country Director.
“Life-saving aid like shelter, food and water are crucial in this crisis – but to help children recover and rebuild after their ordeals psychological support must be considered a priority. The world must do more to repair the damage.”