The Effects of War and Violence Conflict on Youth in the Middle East

Protracted warfare has longterm physical and mental impacts on the individual, as well as intergenerational economic impacts. Yet, young people can be extremely resilient and resourceful; They have to be. They thus create for themselves an oasis of stability in a world of shifting social and political landscapes. At a societal level, such stability is also key, or else young individuals themselves will become victims or perpetrators of violence. This chapter looks at five war-torn countries in the Arab region—Iraq, Palestine, Somalia, Sudan and Syria—and depicts how, in the midst of ruined cities and devastated lives, most young people strive to help their communities function, while finding opportunities to empower themselves.