Istanbul Gelisim University - Terrorist attacks at the border affected children the most

Terrorist attacks at the border affected children the most

There were 34 rockets and mortar attacks on Kilis in 2016 and 2019 due to the civil war in Syria. 25 people were killed and many citizens were injured in the attacks. Financial damage occurred in 367 homes and many schools, mosques, hospital. Mehmet Başcıllar, a faculty member of the Department of Social Service at Istanbul Gelisim University, made researches on the effects of these attacks on children and stated that children were the most affected ones by the attacks on Kilis as with all terrorist attacks. Başcıllar met with 64 children aged between 11 and 17 live in neighborhoods close to the Syrian border, and showed how the children were affected by the attacks on his research lasting 4 months.

According to the results of the research:

* About two out of three children are feared and worried about the terrorist attacks (%64,1).
* Three out of four children state loud noises remind them of the terrorist attack (%75).
* About two in five children have had negative dreams of a terrorist attack (%39,1).
* Two out of five children feel unsafe when wandering outdoors (%40,2).
* About two out of every five children want to move to another city (%42.2).
* About one in four children states changes in their parents' behavior after the terrorist attacks (%28,1).

THEN WHAT TO DO?

Başcıllar stated that the traumatic effects of the terrorist attacks on children may occur weeks and months later and talked about what is needed to do as follows: “Terror attacks can cause problems such as depression, fear, anxiety, decline in academic achievement, lack of concentration and hyperactivity in children. In addition, terrorist attacks directly or indirectly threaten the fundamental rights and freedoms of children living in the border provinces, particularly the right to life, the right to education, the right to health and the right to play. It is one of the primary duties of the state to take measures to protect children from physical, mental, sexual, economic abuse and neglect, to organize and to employ professionals in this field. Mobile teams including social workers, psychologists, child development specialists and other professionals organized by the most important organization in this field, the Ministry of Family, Labor and Social Services should be urgently charged with providing psychosocial services to children and their families affected by terrorist attacks in every streets and regions.

Stating that there is a need to conduct comprehensive researches in order to reveal the problems experienced by children living in border provinces due to terrorist attacks due to traumatic events, and to take action on social policies and long-term action plans in the light of these researches, Başcıllar said: “In the provinces where education is suspended due to terrorist attacks, measures should be taken by the Ministry of National Education to ensure that academic achievement of children is not adversely affected. Since children spend most of their time at school after their family, there is a need to employ social workers at schools and to provide comprehensive psychosocial services in schools, as well.”