Wars and Civilians 

Wars take a heavy toll on civilians

Wars are particularly described as conflicts which take place between nations or groups that highly involve the use of armed forces and violence. Wars are devastating actions which can have devastating impacts on societies and result in loss of lives, destruction and as well as political changes.

Wars can be caused by a variety of factors and involve multiple parties. These are often complex and not attributed to a single group or individual. Wars have a bundle of faws behind it but the flaws like political conflicts, territorial disputes, ideological differences and power struggles can contribute to the outbreak of wars. On the other hand, civilians are regular people who are not part of the military or armed forces. They are common citizens who are not involved in fighting or warfare. They play important and crucial roles in society and are often affected by very dangerous consequences of wars. Wars can have a significant and dangerous impact on civilians.

“They may experience displacement, loss of lives, depression, loss of homes, factories, school, work places,” said a political science teacher.  She also mentions that wars can also result in worsening the situation of the affected country. A hard working and effective student, she strongly advocates against wars and stated, “Wars always result in health problems for the civilians as the wars are full of destruction and distractions.”

My mother, who was a governmental teacher, echoes my political-science teacher’s words by strongly saying that wars highly result in high depression which creates a fearful environment for the civilians. She always says, “Wars are incredibly awful activities that always have devastating consequences and long-lasting trauma.” “However, in the list of these consequences poverty, diseases and economical issues are the most terrifying ones which created bad situations for the civilians of the affected country,” says my elder sister who is a nursing student.

Additionally, in the past, all wars eventually brought sufferings for the civilians as here are some of the wars that had significant and severe impacts on the civilians; World War Two, Syrian Civil War, Vietnam War, Rwandan Genocide War, Afghanistan War, Israel-Palestine war and many others. These are the examples of those wars which were severely destructive and had dangerous impacts on the civilians of the affected countries.

World War Two: It started on 1 September 1939 when Germany invaded Poland. The war lasted for six years until 2 September 1945, with the surrender of Japan. The invasion of Poland by Germany in 1939 was a major trigger event that led to the outbreak of the war. It was highly terrifying which resulted in significant loss of lives, displacement, and destruction. It was a tragic and complex situation that had impacted many lives within the country.

Overall, stopping wars is a complex task that requires diplomatic efforts, dialogue, and understanding between conflicting parties. It often involves negotiations, peace agreements and international mediation. Additionally, addressing the root causes of conflicts, promoting tolerance and fostering economic development can contribute to long-lasting peace. It is a challenging process, but by collective efforts peace can be achieved.

Syrian Civil War: It began in 2011 and is still on-going. It started as a result of various factors which include political unrest, social and economic grievances and the desire for political reform. This ongoing conflict has resulted in widespread displacement, destruction and loss of lives. It is a highly terrible and tragic conflict which has resulted in devastating consequences for many people who were involved.

Vietnam War: It began in 1955 and ended in 1975. It started as a result of the Cold War tensions between the USA and the USSR. The conflict arose from a desire to prevent the spread of communism in South-east Asia. The war had significant political, economic and social ramifications for both Vietnam and the USA. It resulted in the loss of countless lives, the displacement of many people and destruction of infrastructure. The consequences of the war had far-reaching impacts and it was a tragic situation with long-lasting effects.

Rwandan Genocide: It occurred in 1994 and lasted approximately for about 100 days. It started as a result of long-standing ethnic tensions between the Hutu and Tutsi population in Rwanda. The assassination of the Rwandan President sparked widespread violence and led to the systematic killing of around 800,000 people, mostly Tutsis as compared to Hutu. The reasons behind the genocide are complex and intertwined with historical, political and social factors. It led to the loss of many lives, displacement of people and damage to infrastructure. It was a tragic event with devastating consequences for the people.

Afghanistan War: It began in 2001 and is still ongoing. It started in response to the September 11 attacks on the USA. The USA and its allies invaded Afghanistan to remove the Taliban regime, which was harboring Al-Qaeda. The war aimed to promote stability and democracy in Afghanistan. The war in Afghanistan has been a devastating and tragic conflict with significant consequences. It has caused immense sufferings for the people of Afghanistan and has had far- reaching effects on the region.

Russian invasion of Ukraine: The conflict started when Russia got the regions of Donetsk and Luhansk to secede from Ukraine. However, it was not until February 2022 that Russia invaded Ukraine. While the war itself has become a battle of attrition between the two armies, not only have civilians been killed, but Ukrainian refugees have fled the country.

Israeli-Palestinian War: The recent Israeli-Palestinian War has a long and complicated history that dates back many decades. The roots of the war can be traced to the early 20th century, with various events and circumstances contributing to the ongoing tensions between Israelis and Palestinians. It originated from a complex mix of historical, political, and religious factors. It involves competing claims to the same land, disagreements over borders, settlements and the status of Jerusalem. It is indeed a complex and heartbreaking situation. It is causing immense suffering for both Israelis and Palestinians and it has a profound impact on the lives of people in the region. It is a devastating and heartbreaking conflict.

Ultimately, wars have a profound impact on civilians, caught in the midst of conflict. Innocent people including children, adults, and the old often bear the brunt of violence, displacement and loss. They may face the risk of injury or death, lack of access to basic necessities like food, water and healthcare and the destruction of their homes and communities, and now Israel and Palestine is the clean example, Palestine needs access to the basic facilities. The effects can be long-lasting which cause physical and emotional trauma that takes many years to heal. It is highly heartbreaking to see the suffering of civilians in war-torn areas.

Overall, stopping wars is a complex task that requires diplomatic efforts, dialogue, and understanding between conflicting parties. It often involves negotiations, peace agreements and international mediation. Additionally, addressing the root causes of conflicts, promoting tolerance and fostering economic development can contribute to long-lasting peace. It is a challenging process, but by collective efforts peace can be achieved.

Khadija Asghar Ali
Khadija Asghar Ali
The writer is a freelance columnist

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