Young people caught in conflict deserve a better shot at life

This is in reference to Sulaiman Hakemy’s op-ed With so many kids stuck in Syria, does the world still care about child rights? (April 26): in conflict, children are punished for no fault of theirs and their trauma continues indefinitely. Perhaps not enough attention is paid to issues that affect children, women and the elderly. Children’s well-being is of critical importance. Violence around the world needs to end for their lives to be anywhere near normal. It is the responsibility of governments to pay attention to the suffering and trauma of children – which has life-long effects – and bring normality back to their lives.

It is not easy to find a sustainable way out of conflict. If not the respective governments then the Human Rights Commission and other independent organisations should help the countless children in countries where atrocities continue routinely.

Much more than money, children need love and comfort in their early life, not what they experience in war.

Ramachandran Nair, Muscat, Oman

The greatest tragedy of war and conflict is perhaps the innocent lives it damages. Wherever possibly one should adopt them, or at least educate them and love them as your own so that they may turn into good citizens of tomorrow.

Nazim Hasan Khan, Hyderabad,

India