Wars, in general, have a myriad of effects and the worst hit or affected are the children. The effects are particularly traumatic with widespread impact on the economy, physical health, psychological health, as well as the society. All these factors have a domino effect trickling down to the children either directly or indirectly. Based on the Yugoslavian experience especially in FRY, most of the Serbians living on the outskirts of the country particularly in the border were displaced as IDPs and refugees in the neighboring countries. In essence, the end of 1992 saw approximately 600, 000 individuals displaced out of the warzones particularly from Montenegro and Serbia. Out of this whopping number, thirty to forty percent were children. Ultimately, by the end of the Yugoslavian conflict and violence, between 280, 000 and 350, 000 had been displaced and settled in FRY as either refugees or IDPs.
One of the significant problems that faced children during and after the Yugoslavian experience is the poor physical health which is in most cases accompanied by emotional and psychological trauma. This is particularly worse in children who were born as a result of rape or forced impregnations from men of the rival ethnic group. Since the father’s ethnic identity determines the child’s identity, most often than not the children suffer from discrimination based on the perception that they are borne of a father from a rival ethnic group. Further stigma arises when their mothers disown them in their bid to be accepted by the society. This is evidenced by some of the responses from children during Mirovic’s interview where they assert their worries of not having a home again. Coupled with poverty, the physical health of the children is greatly compromised and substantially deteriorates. Contamination from chemicals arising from NATO bombardments on industrial plants especially in Pence and other areas also played a significant role in harming the children’s health.
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Nevertheless, efforts from NGOs in mitigating the effects of the Yugoslavian violence have been effective especially in alleviating poverty through improving the economic standards as well as the living conditions of the refugees. In addition, humanitarian aid regarding medical care, food, and other forms of assistance by NGOs has been pivotal in tipping the odds of fighting poverty and hunger. In turn, the physical health of the children is improved. However, much progress has not been made in improving the psychological well-being of the children especially those fathered by rival ethnic men. Nevertheless, the humanitarian aid offered by NGOs should not be ignored in the long-term process of healing the emotional and psychological scars left behind by the war. Specifically, good health, as well as a better-managed country, ensure that the children grow in bolstered living standards where they can achieve education as provided by the NGOs thereby forging their own identities rather than living in the shadow and stigma resulting from their fathers’ atrocities.
References
Danopoulos, Constantine P., Nila Kapor-Stanulovic, and Konstantinos S. Skandalis. "Children and Armed Conflict: The Yugoslav Experience." Journal of Balkan and Near Eastern Studies 14, no. 1 (2012): 151-163. http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/19448953.2012.656977
Constantine P. Danopoulos, Nila Kapor-Stanulovic, & Konstantinos S. Skandalis. “Children and Armed Conflict: The Yugoslav Experience” Journal of Balkan and Near Eastern Studies, 14, no. 1 (2012): 151-163. http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/19448953.2012.656977
Ibid, p.154
Ibid, p.155
