IMPACTS OF CIVIL WAR

  IMPACTS OF CIVIL WAR

Civil war is becoming a threat to the entire continent. It has impacted negatively on peoples’ lives both economically, socially and also politically. I agree that measures have been taken to reduce this pandemic which is crashing the world slowly but seems that they are less effective in fighting a civil war. We cannot bear this anymore since some great minds which could be the problem solvers of today’s problems are being wiped out by this nightmare which has changed to reality. This Narration is about how Lynn who is focused on establishing her career as a human right activist while fighting the effects of civil war.

I met a Lynn last year at the Achievers’ ball which was organized by the school for those who had done well during the previous History symposium. Afterward, I came to realize she was a Syrian citizen and she had relocated to the United States of America where her aunt was residing to continue with her studies. We became good friends and shared a lot of personal issues with her.

According to her, political instability was the killer of dreams of many of her friends back in Syria. Her friends could not access good education due to hostile environments due to bombs and missiles everywhere. Tension had erupted due to the fear of usage of nuclear weapons which her country had invested a lot in. Hopes of a bright future of her friends had faded completely since the conditions kept on worsening.

The phrase civil war was a vocabulary I could not miss from her topics whenever we sat down to talk. Her family was still in Syria and she never wished any harm could ever happen to them, especially her mother and her small sister. This is because of serious violation of women and children rights in the country. Women and children were being raped and tortured by armed civilians and terrorists in the region and this was her worst second last thing to happen to her family before death. Small boys were being kidnapped from their homes to be recruited in different fighting groups. They would be trained and send to the shooting battles while still young violating their lawful rights.

Religion had changed its meaning to a weapon. The country has different types of religion including Christians, Muslims and Buddhists. No one could exercise the freedom freely. Churches, mosques and temples had been burnt down by different arsonists.

The economy of the country had worsened to a point where it had nothing to feed its large population but only relied on relief aid from international organs such as the United Nations. Its citizens looked malnourished and were starving from hunger. Moreover, the Syrian troops who were trying to maintain law and order in the nation had nothing in their battlefields. The government had no funds to run the country and all the efforts they tried was all in vain.

I became an introvert and she became the only friend I had. My free time was always devoted to watching documentaries about the Middle East and I could never miss any news on Syria. I had fallen for her and she had not come clear on whether to start dating or not. I could see the pain which was buried deep in her heart and I was willing to help something which drew me closer to her.

Lack of proper housing and health care was something forgotten by Syrian citizens. They built temporary houses to shelter the little they owned so that they could move in case the neighborhood was under attack. The aged citizens and the sick lacked suffered to get proper healthcare unless they were from rich families or the Baaaths’ party (the ruling party in Syria). Greed among the political kingpins was a factor that led to decline in the economy. This is due to the embezzlement of public funds to settle their families in safer countries.

My curiosity led me in choosing Lynn’s career to fight for the rights of the weak people in any society. We made a lot of research on the effects and causes of civil war and vowed to speak those who could not express themselves. I came to learn that the war had started due to bad governance where president Bashaar al- Assad succeeded his father. Lack of unemployment and widespread corruption hit the state soon as he ascended to power in 2011. The citizens began pre- democracy demonstrations which become brutal and violent due to excessive use of force by the army.

To help her country and other third world countries experiencing civil war such as Somalia, Libya, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Democratic Republic of Congo, the world peacekeeping organizations should enhance and use more technology in finding a perfect solution to this pandemic. Talks between the two parties should be initiated and better conclusions made to curb this danger. Syria is slowly fading away and by the time the world knows, it will have reached a point of no return. Value of humanity is being taken for granted and it has to stop. Meeting Lynn that night changed my whole knowledge about civil war and we as a continent need to do something effective now to help the remaining lives.