Taylor+H

Growing up in a World of War Being a kid can’t always be easy, but being a child in a world of war is even more difficult. Violence, death, and destruction plague the lives of the Iraqi children living in a war zone. War affects the lives of all who are involved, but it takes an even bigger toll on the innocent children. The Iraq war has influenced many ways in which the Iraqi children see the world. They now see the world as a place of despair or have hope for the future. Either way, the war has had an impact in the lives of these Iraqi children, and the effects the war has had on them will stick with them for the rest of their lives. A study done shows that 70 % of 2,500 children in Iraqi have suffered mental distress from the war. From wetting the bed to paranoia, these children’s lives have been deeply impacted by the war on terror. Although wetting the bed is a phase in which most children go through in the United States, in Iraq these children are wetting the because of the trauma this war has caused them mentally. Many have nights where the get little to no sleep at all because they have heard about the things that can occur while you sleep. Many children suffer from anxiety with no treatment. Here children run around without a care in a world but in Iraq children worry as if they are adults. The Iraqi Children must take extreme caution while even doing something as simple as walking down the street. Mental problems are not the only thing plaguing Iraqi children; many have suffered physically from living in a war zone. Bombs, guns, and other random acts of violence are one of the biggest problems facing these children. Street violence is one of the main killers among these Iraqi children. Parents are scared to even let their children walk down the street for fear of them being shot at or even kidnapped. A war zone is an extremely dangerous place, but at least the older you are you can be more aware of what is going on in your surroundings. Children can be very naïve, and not realize the full out dangerousness of the situation occurring around them. Especially with no adults to make sure they know how to remain safe. Abandonment is another hardship facing many Iraq youths. Many Iraqi children have become orphans as a result of the war. Relatives may take the children in but when they have an option to escape this war zone, they flee, leaving the child behind to survive on their own. War makes people concerned only for their survival and makes them become self-centered. These children have to learn first hand what its like to be alone in this world and it’s nothing anyone should ever have to feel, especially a child. Also children are plagued by diarrhea, although diarrhea is potentially harmless over in the United States, in Iraqi without treatment, diarrhea has taken the lives of innocent children [|. Extensive diarrhea leads to dehydration and malnutrition in many of the Iraqi Children]. As their weight drops and they become weaker it will become harder for them to recover if they will even be able to recover at all. Many Iraq children die before the age of 5 due to not being treated for their illness. Without proper recuperation form an illness you can never fully recover your strength which seems to be the case with many of these children. Iraqi hospitals were in pretty bad shape before we invaded in 2003. Although when we invaded what little structure they had collapsed as did their government. Hospitals have trouble keeping up with all the sick and injured who are looking for their care. Since the structure collapsed, hospitals have stopped keeping records of the incoming and outgoing patient causing chaos when it comes to looking back on medical history. Also with hospitals being in such poor shape people do not always receive the proper treatment for their illness or injury. Although schools have not been the safe haven for children in Iraqi as they should be, [|many schools are working to become a better environment for the Iraqi Children]. Last year only about 40% of high school students passed their final exam based on information from UNICEF. Many children have been unable to attend school because they were scared for their safety. One parent, Brigadier Hesham Al Rawi, sits outside his children’s schools to make sure they are all right. The principal at one Brigadier Hesham Al Rawi’s child’s school stated, “There is no security in Iraq anymore. If somebody comes to shoot us, we can do nothing to protect ourselves.” War takes its toll on those involved no matter what their age. Death and Destruction plague those who are unfortunate to be stuck in a war zone. The children of Iraq’s view on life has been changed due to this war and has helped to shape some of their beliefs and opinions that will stick with them for the rest of their lives. Experiences in life form our views, thoughts, opinions, are attitude, and the way we act. People can go through the same experience yet be changed in different ways. An experience doesn’t force us to think or act in a certain way; ultimately it is up to us on how we will let the experience change us. code Works Cited code code Badkhen, Anna. "For Iraq 's children, a new war has begun." __SFGate.com__. 18 May 2003. 26 Apr. 2008 code code . code code Cheng, Maria. "One in eight Iraqi children died of disease or violence before reaching their fifth code code      birthday in 2005 ." __BlogSpot.com__. 8 May 2007. 25 Apr. 2008 . code code Damon, Anna. "Iraqi teen in war zone: 'I will have a future.'" __CNN.com__. 14 Mar. 2008. 29 Apr. 2008 code code . code code E&P Staff. "'NYT' Reporters Blog About Life in Baghdad -- With Children a Key Concern." __ New York __ code code __Times__ 22 June 2007. __ Student __ __ Resource __ __ Center ____ Gold __. Gale. Seton High School, Cincinnati , OH. code code 27 Apr. 2008 . code code Robichaux,, Stephanie. "Growing Up Amid War and Sanctions." __CWLA.com__. 2006. 25 Apr. 2008 code code . code code Siegel, Robert. "Conflict Steals Youth from Many Iraqi Youths." __NPR.com__. 14 Dec. 2007. 28 Apr. 2008 code code . code code Vick, Karl. "Children Pay Cost of Iraq 's Chaos." __WashingtonPost.com__. 21 Nov. 2004. 27 Apr. 2008 code code . code code Wertheimer, Linda. "Iraqi Children Suffer Mental Stress From War." __NPR.com__. 21 Apr. 2007. 27 Apr. code code 2008 . code