As conflict escalates, Save the Children is calling for all states to deploy every diplomatic tool to secure an end to hostilities and adherence to international humanitarian law to protect the physical, mental and emotional wellbeing of children across the region.
Millions of children have been placed at grave risk due to the escalation in the conflict, including about 15.5 million children in GCC states, with fear, disruption and uncertainty now defining their days.
Across Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the UAE, civilian casualties and attacks on civilian infrastructure have been witnessed.
Places vital to family life and national economies – including homes, airports, hotels and ports – have been hit, disrupting travelling, separating families from their loved ones, and creating fear and insecurity in communities that were at peace.
The use of explosive weapons in densely populated areas across the region, such as Sitra, poses a disproportionate threat to children who are uniquely vulnerable to blast injuries. Explosive weapons cause not only immediate death and injury but lifelong disability, trauma and sometimes social exclusion.
The conflict is generating fear among children, the charity says, including those sheltering from attacks, with prolonged exposure to insecurity, sirens and explosions raising the risk of chronic emotional distress.
The psychological impact on children – for whom the sudden onset of distress and uncertainty is particularly acute – must not be underestimated. Prolonged exposure to violence raises the risk of emotional harm, with consequences for children’s wellbeing and development that can last a lifetime.
Schools have also been forced to close across many GCC states and revert to online lessons, disrupting children’s daily routines and sense of safety, and undermining their learning during what should be a stable school year.
Latifa Mattar, Save the Children’s Gulf Advocacy and External Engagement manager, said: “Children across GCC states had no say in this conflict and yet, they are paying the price.
“Children are now living in fear. We are hearing of children too scared to sleep, families sheltering indoors, and schools shuttered at a time when children need routine and safety most.
“We are calling for an immediate cessation of hostilities. Every hour of continued conflict is another hour a child spends in fear. The international community must act now – deploy every diplomatic tool available to end the conflict, demand compliance with international humanitarian law, and ensure that children are protected.
“Upholding the laws of war is an obligation, not a choice. There must be a return to good-faith diplomacy before the harm to this generation becomes irreversible.”
Save the Children is present in the GCC region, working with governments and local stakeholders on child protection and education.
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