African genocide and its effect on children

The genocide that happened in Africa is the product of clashing cultural and ethnic beliefs. It has greatly affected the country, hurting its economy and agriculture. Half a million lives were lost, thousands of homes were destroyed, and thousands of family members were separated. These are the immediate effects of the genocide that went on for days.

It has been more than a decade since it happened, but until now its effects are still felt by a lot of people, especially Africa’s children. It has left thousands of these young ones orphaned and homeless, but more importantly, the genocide that occurred a few years back was able to leave great psychological trauma to these children.

After the war, the outlook of the people of Africa has greatly changed. They have developed fear of similar things that could happen, and they have become more wary of other people. It was hard for the adults to take what has happened, but it was considerably more difficult for the children (Green, 2002).

Many were left homeless and separated from their family. They hand to fend for themselves in order to survive, considering that at their time and age, they have witnessed great amounts of violence following the weeks of the genocide. This has affected them psychologically, with effects varying on different situations. Some children developed a violent tendency, joining organized armies in the region, fighting for territorial land among adults.

The young women were forced into pregnancy, a lot of them just in their adolescence. It was practically rape, but no one was able to save them from the harsh actions of other people (Albertyn, Bickler, As, Millar, & Rode, 2003). These children have been more withdrawn from the society, especially with the fear that was instilled in their minds by the genocide. Their youth were literally corrupted from them.

Their smiles were replaced by hatred, and the fun-loving child in them was turned into anti-social adults in adolescent bodies.

The effects of the genocide was so great, even until now, the people can still feel it. It has left them scarred physically and emotionally, affecting their perspectives on the society and the people around them.

The children were the ones who suffered more, as they were corrupted at an early age by the violence and hatred of the adults, fueled by cultural and ethnic differences.

References:

Albertyn, R., Bickler, S. W., As, A. B. v., Millar, A. J. W., & Rode, H. (2003). The effects of war on children in Africa Pediatric Surgery International, Vol. 19(No. 4).

Green, L. L. (2002). Propaganda and Sexual Violence in the Rwandan Genocide: an Argument for Intersectionality in International Law. Columbia Human Rights Law Review, Vol. 33.