Armed conflict and its impact on children and families

As part of deliberate efforts to understand the primary cause of armed conflict(insurgency or militancy) in Nigeria. AAPECA INT'L send 10 aid workers from the organization on a fact finding mission to Niger Delta region of... [ view full abstract ]

As part of deliberate efforts to understand the primary cause of armed conflict(insurgency or militancy) in Nigeria. AAPECA INT'L send 10 aid workers from the organization on a fact finding mission to Niger Delta region of Nigeria that had armed conflict in 2002-2004. The investigation was on one on one interview with youths,men and women of the region.
80 out of 100 people interviewed confirmed that children/youths were recruited into the militia as they were offered to be paid to fight since they are jobless and are in extreme poverty in their homes. Like many others,a woman opened up and narrated her ordeals as her two kids of 15 &17yrs joined MILITIA FOR EMANCIPATION OF NIGER DELTA(MEND). She mentioned number of negative impact of armed conflict on children and families:1,CHILDREN EXPOSURE TO DANGER;her two kids joined militia on the same day.2,DISPLACEMENT;Family disintegration,loss of properties,lack of proper healthcare,kids dont go to school etc.3,RAPE/SEXUAL ASSAULT;Women are raped by both militants and govt soldiers,kids are sexually abused etc.4,MIGRATION; People moving out of their homes and houses to live like refugees in your own country,going to internally displaced peoples IDP camp(s),pregnant women and aged people live in dehumanizing conditions.5,POST WAR TRAUMA;Some children undergo mental health challenges resulting from exposure to violence and hardship during armed conflict.
This research is to bring to the knowledge of Nigeria government the untold suffering children and families undergo in armed conflict areas and the impact exposure to violence/war have on children and families.
Finally the research have shown that military combat alone cannot flux(insurgency -Boko Haram or militancy) in Nigeria without addressing unemployment of the youths and improve on the economy of the country.