“It pains me to know that my daughter is growing up under circumstances similar to my own,” says Ahmad, who has been separated from his family and country for five years
Gulpari is almost five years old. She lives in a small city in Afghanistan. Some nights she falls into a dreamless sleep, whereas other nights are not so peaceful. On those nights, Gulpari wakes up crying and nestles in her mother’s embrace, wrapping her little arms around her for comfort.
Gulpari’s father, Ahmad, is among the many Afghans who had to leave their country and loved ones behind. Shortly after marrying Zahra, he had to leave Afghanistan to find work in Turkey. Otherwise, his options were either joining the army or the Taliban. “Throughout history, my country suffered through conflict. When the US came, they promised us democracy, freedom, equality and education for men and women. Where are they now? What happened to their promises?”“It pains me to know that my daughter is growing up under circumstances similar to my own.”
Displaced children, especially refugees, are also more vulnerable to experiencing psychological issues. They encounter additional risk factors during transit and in their destination in addition to the trauma they faced at home. Among displaced children, unaccompanied minors and children separated from their caregivers are at highest risk.The journey to safety is often challenging and dangerous. During transit, many children are separated from their caregivers.
This means that children need a certain quantity and quality of environmental stimulation. This can be through interaction with and attention from care-givers, which can be lacking for children from conflict-ridden countries as their caregivers are likely to be experiencing mental health issues themselves. Children also need to have quality play time enhanced by toys and the presence of peers, a luxury for some children that live in conflict and poverty.
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