In the midst of the Syrian civil war, Samar's life was forever altered. She was a young girl who had once attended school and played with her friends. However, the war brought destruction to her hometown. Her school was bombed, her friends displaced, and her family left struggling for survival.
Samar's health took a dire turn as the conflict raged on. The war's relentless violence left her traumatized. She had nightmares, anxiety, and panic attacks, symptoms of the deep emotional scars inflicted by the constant threat of bombings and gunfire. Basic necessities like food and clean water became scarce, leading to malnutrition and various health issues.
What makes Samar's story particularly heartbreaking is the loss of her parents. They perished in an airstrike that also severely injured her. This left Samar, at a tender age, as an orphan. The support structures of society had crumbled under the weight of war, and Samar, along with many other Syrian children, was left to fend for herself.
Samar's tale is not unique, as countless children in war-torn regions endure similar suffering. The society they once knew disintegrates, and they are thrust into a harsh world where innocence is lost, dreams are shattered, and the future is uncertain.
Here's one of my favorite excerpts from Wilfred Owen's famous poem "Dulce et Decorum Est:
Bent double, like old beggars under sacks,Â
Knock-kneed, coughing like hags, we cursed through sludge,Â
Till on the haunting flares we turned our backs,Â
And towards our distant rest began to trudge.Â
Men marched asleep. Many had lost their boots,Â
But limped on, blood-shod. All went lame; all blind;Â
Drunk with fatigue; deaf even to the hootsÂ
Of gas-shells dropping softly behind.
Hello guys. I know it has felt like an eternity since my last newsletter, but I guess we have all been occupied with so many activities in our daily lives; for me, I actually picked up a new hobby, and that’s American football(a little bit shaky with lineup at the moment but I’m at the level, I jump up with every touchdown). And if you care to ask, I love Mahomes at the moment. But while all of us have been busy, the world has been bleeding, and we can’t just turn a blind eye to it unless we lack empathy or we just don’t exist.
Between September 19 and 20, Azerbaijan launched a large-scale military offensive against the self-declared breakaway state of Artsakh, which wanted to join Armenia. Now, I imagine most of us don’t know about that, so I would advise we read up on one of the oldest wars in northern Europe, The Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.Â
But more heartbreaking is the current ‘war’ between Israel and Palestine. The Israel-Palestine conflict is a story of heartbreak etched deep into the land and souls of its people. It's a tale of two nations bound by history, shaped by strife, and yearning for a place to call home. For generations, we've seen this struggle play out, with families on both sides living in a state of constant uncertainty, where children often bear the heaviest burdens, their innocence robbed by the harsh realities of war and displacement. The conflict is a relentless storm that has wreaked havoc on the health and well-being of countless individuals, a society divided by walls, both physical and metaphorical.Â
This is a human tragedy, a quest for identity, belonging, and peace that has yet to conclude. It's a complex narrative, one that weaves together dreams and despair and, in the end, leaves us questioning what it truly means to find resolution and heal the deep wounds of the past.
On a peaceful Saturday, on 8th October 2023, a small group of ‘vigilantes’ called Hamas, who have been termed as ‘terrorists’ by the UN, decided to shoot the first offensive; what followed etched my heart and made my soul bleed. Israel declared a full-scale war against the Gaza Strip of Palestine, an area believed to be a safehold for the Hamas. The rest of the story is online, and we see it daily. I won’t mention any specific case for this as we can hardly decipher between fact and fallacy during the war; the line between them is blurred out.
But what I would talk about is the profound effect of this on innocent citizens and bystanders who just want to live a normal life, dream profound dreams, and grow in a healthy and unscarred household. Unfortunately, that will not be the case for young children, pregnant women, and young men with dreams in these affected areas. This war is going to take these regions back by 10s of decades and leave eternal scars for the civilians in these areas. So, I quickly highlighted 3 areas that strike me the most:
The Children Trapped in a Nightmare: Imagine being a child and waking up to the blaring sirens of air raids, knowing that you're not safe in your own home. This is the reality for many children in these conflict zones. They face a level of fear and trauma that no child should ever experience. The nightmares they endure today will leave lasting scars, impacting their mental and emotional well-being. It's a tragedy that extends far beyond borders.
Economic Struggles: The economic fallout of any conflict is devastating, but it's especially dire for Palestine. The destruction of infrastructure, the disruption of businesses, and the devastation of farms don't just affect financial markets; they affect real people. Families who were once self-sufficient now rely on humanitarian aid to survive. The dignity of work and the security of a stable income have been replaced by uncertainty and despair.
Communities Shattered: These are not just geopolitical disputes; they are the stories of people who once shared their lives. Neighbors have become mourners, and communities struggle to hold on to their spirit. Lives have been lost, homes demolished, and futures erased. What we see on the news is not just a conflict; it's a tragedy unfolding in the lives and hearts of countless individuals.
I share this not to overwhelm you with despair but to emphasize the very human aspect of this situation. As we sit in our homes far from the frontlines, let us remember the resilience of the human spirit. In the darkest times, people rise, communities rebuild, and children heal.
It’s my utmost prayer that the world heal from all of these and that we become a better globe because WAR IS NEVER THE ANSWER. Not even for the decade we are in; we have surpassed this and should be moving towards the pique of civilization and not regressing on it.
Please share your thoughts with me, and I will indulge everyone, irrespective of your view. Thanks for reading, and happy end of the year. I hope to be able to write very soon.
Best Regards,
Bolu.