They are Only Children: An Analysis of the Effect War has on Children

How often does one think of the wars that are happening in other parts of the world? War is all over the world, yet it is not usually thought of unless one is personally affected by it. However, where there is war, it negatively affects all people, including children. During times of war, children are innocent and usually do not even know why there is war, yet they are affected emotionally and physically because of it.

First of all, when there is war in a child’s country, children are negatively affected emotionally by seeing war, soldiers and guns near their homes, which are things children should not be seeing. The war in both Afghanistan and Syria are examples of how

children are emotionally affected by war. The photograph (right) shows three young, Afghan children passing a line of soldiers. This image uses foreground by having the soldier and three children more clear than the rest of the image, so that is what is first noticed. When looking at the children, only the one closest to the soldier seems to pay attention to him, the other two do not seem to notice him. These children are so familiar with seeing soldiers carrying guns, that it has become normal for them, which is not right. Since these children have no choice but to see soldiers with guns when they go outside, it negatively affects them because they are witnessing things that children should not see. Even though they have not caused the war, and are not involved in it, they are still negatively affected emotionally by it. 
Also, in the same way as Afghan children, Syrian children are also negatively

affected emotionally by the war around them. This photograph (left) was taken at a Syrian refugee camp of a four-year-old girl named Hudea, who raised her arms in surrender when she saw the camera lense pointed at her, because she thought it was a gun. This image also uses foreground by having Hudea the prominent object in the image, so she is first noticed. When looking at Hudea, her eyes are wide open, her hands are clenched and she is biting her lip, which shows that she is terrified. Since there is war in her country, she has no choice but to see guns, violence and to live in fear, which are things a child should not have to experience. Even though children have no involvement in the war and do not even know what is happening, they are still negatively affected by it because they are forced to see and experience things that they should not have to.

Second, when children live in a country where there is war they are negatively affected physically by poverty, which is from the lack of money, food and water, which can ultimately cause death. The war in Afghanistan and Syria are again examples of children

being physically affected by war. The photograph (right) shows a poor, Afghan girl sitting in a ditch.  This image uses colour by having the girl and her dress the most colourful things against the dirt background, which causes her to be the most noticeable object. When looking closely at her, one can see that her clothes and body are covered in dirt and that her face has a look of sorrow and pain. Since there is war where she is living, she does not have a choice but to experience the effects of war. Even though she is innocent in regards to the war, it still causes her to live in poverty, without enough food and water, which is not how a child should be living. 
Furthermore, just as Afghan children are physically affected by the war around

them, so are children in Syria. This image (left) was taken on a Turkish beach of a young, three-year-old Syrian boy, named Aylan Kurdi. His body was found washed up on shore after his boat capsized during his escape from Syria. This image also uses colour since Aylan and his clothes are much more colourful compared to the sand and water in the background, which makes him the most noticeable object in the image. Since there is war in his country, his family and himself have no choice but to flee, which ultimately causes him his death. Even though Aylan has no involvement in the war and does not even understand what is happening, he is still negatively affected by it, through death. Aylan experiences death at a young age because of the war in his country, which is something that children should never have to go through. 

In conclusion, war in a child’s country negatively affects them emotionally and physically, even though they are innocent and usually do not even know why there is war. The images of the Afghan girls passing the soldiers, Hudea surrendering, the poor Afghan girl in the ditch and Aylan washed up on shore all demonstrate how children are emotionally and physically affected by war.

Image Citations

Image 1:

Strong, Bob. Afghan soldier passing children. The Guardian. Guardian, 10 Aug. 2010. Web. 4 Jan.

   2016. <http://www.theguardian.com/world/2010/aug/10/afghanistan-civilian-deaths-up-un>.

Image 2:

Sagirli, Osman. Syrian girl in surrender. CBC News. CBC/Radio-Canada, 1 Apr. 2015. Web. 5 Jan. 2016.

<http://www.cbc.ca/news/trending/ syrian-girl-s-surrender-to-photographer-caught-in-heartbreaking-image-1.3018051>.

Image 3:

Poor Afghan girl. Pixdaus. Pixdaus, 2008. Web. 5 Jan. 2016. <http://pixdaus.com/

    afghanistan-wars-poverty-and-children-left-to-themselves-are/items/view/531519/>.

Image 4:

Syrian boy washed up on the shore. Daily Sabah Turkey. Turkuvaz Media Group, 2 Sept. 2015. Web. 6

    Jan. 2016. <http://www.dailysabah.com/nation/2015/09/02/

    devastating-images-of-syrian-boy-washed-up-on-turkish-shore-show-desperation-of-refugees>.