Gina Ponzi
March 26th, 2009
9:17 PM
In the past few weeks, hundreds of former child soldiers in the eastern Congo have been returning to their hometowns, according to recent reports. These children, most often captured by rebel forces and forced into battle, labor, and sex, are now struggling to re-accustom themselves to experiencing life without the daily violence of war. Many of these children were involved in the slaughter of civilians in their own hometowns; just in November, over 150 civilians in Kiwanja, (now home to an aid relief facility) were murdered in a two-day massacre. The current sufferings of these children are diverse: some beat their heads and hands against walls, some suffer from drug withdrawal (children are given drugs to reduce inhibitions about killing), some refuse to speak, some are disowned by their families, and even deny being coerced into the army. (Rebel officers encourage children to lie about their age, and their involuntary involvement in battle). Many have scares and injuAid workers have established refuges and rehabilitation programs for the children, and UNCEF has estimated that in the past 5 years, about 30,000 children have been reintegrated into their communities. Currently there are believed to be around 3,500 children still fighting with rebel units.
The use of children in war is a despicable, heartless practice that should be condemned and prosecuted. These children have affectively been robbed not only of their childhoods, but in the case of many, of their adulthood as well. And while these children have an undeniably difficult journey ahead of them, it is one that is certainly less painful than the life they leave behind. The work of aid relief organizations is an admirable cause worth being championed by anyone who believes in a child’s right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2009/03/07/world/main4851543.shtml
3 comments:
I find this so sad. War is no place for children to be. I find this very upsetting. These kids are not even getting to enjoy their childhoods and it's not fair. They didn't ask to have a war or to be involved in it. If they have to have people to fight their wars then it needs to be adults or criminals not innocent children.
This is very unfortunate for these children. Being exposed to things such as that are very traumatic for even adults much less children. That clearly causes psychological damage that will be hard to undo.
I think this is horrible. To think how our childhood is lived and experienced and then read about this is just ridiculous. Their life is ruined by violence and war from its earliest stages.
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