Children are more VULNERABLE- weaker, dependent on adults, in the process of developing their own competencies They experience

trauma and violence, affecting not only their childhood, but their entire life.

CHILDREN IDPs -displaced together with their families

CHILDREN REMAINING IN THEIR COMMUNITIES

Disruption of education

Mental and Emotional Traumas

Loss of livelihood of family and early labor

Hunger

Disease

Death

Children viewed basic education as essential to better livelihood and improving quality of life

Families can no longer afford it. Lack of documentation Demoralization Physical damage to educational infrastructure

Everyday routines are suspended. Teachers do not come to school. Families stop children from going to school. Schools are used as temporary AFP camps and evacuation centers.

Health care is not as much related to armed conflict as schooling. What is problematic is the insufficient health services that people in these areas receive.

Meager Rations Access to water Effects are heaviest on Children IDPs

Poor Sanitation

Armed Conflict Situations

Nervousness | Sleeplessness Lack of Appetite | Silence Absent-mindedness | Impatience Recurring Nightmares | Irritability Attempted Suicide | Withdrawal Depression | Mood Swings Staring blankly into space

Socio-psychological Well-being of Children

Headaches | Muscle Pains Chest Pains | Cramps Nausea | Fever

Manifestations of Psychosocial Trauma

Stress-related Illnesses

Direct Victims Armed Conflict in / near Villages

Dislocation / Loss of Family

Unfriendly Military Forces Presence

Leave villages

Frequent, higher levels of fighting Witnessed destruction Evacuates, but still struggles for survival

Stay in villages

Less intense fighting State forces entering communities Counter insurgency operations

MILF AREAS

Central Mindanao : North Cotabato | Maguindanao

Traumatic events Stress

Artillery fire | Air strikes | Burning Homes Soldiers shooting in the air | Evacuation - Vocabulary to capture the many effects Unresponsive Strong sense of invasion Lingering sense of loss Hopeless about their future

Areas of fighting between AFP & NPA Gunfire, explosions near villages
Caused children anxiety Shock waves: headaches and chest pains Could not eat, sleep Fear of loud noises Suicide attempts Barely speaks

Beaten by soldiers, digging own graves NPA GUERILLA FRONTS

Surigao del Sur | Abra | Mindoro Oriental | Leyte | Capiz

The condition of the poor communities became even worse they they are perceived by the armed forces as members or supporters of the NPA. Children of these families have been exposed to great emotional stress and physical harm.

Some children were threatened that the military will slit their throats just because theyre parents are labeled by the military forces as members of the NPA. Military forces threatened to kill their parents. Some children were suspected of being members of the NPA.

Children have also been physically attacked and harshly interrogated by the military forces. Some were forced by government soldiers to spy for them and report to them every week. Relatives and friends were also attacked by the military forces

Accumulation of anger Desire for vengeance against the military forces Trauma (Physical, Mental and Emotional)

COMMON CHARACTERISTICS
in terms of the capacities & circumstances that children faced that lead to the coping mechanisms

From poor families

Living in the remote rural communities w/ functioning local organizations in place Relatively long experience with armed conflict

Children

Passive Victims

The extent of the childrens involvement and influence varies with some of the community tasks, roles and responsibilities Involvement in their respective families struggles:
Production tasks: attending to backyard animals, bringing carabaos to watering holes, looking after goats and pigs, working family plots, farm labor or off-farm wage work, etc Working their way through school and raising cash for their expenses Maintaining household: cooking, cleaning, doing laundry, fetching water, gathering kindling, etc.

Involvement in their respective communities:

As a result of exposure to village youth organizations & listening to elders in informal situations, the children gained awareness of the issues underlying the armed struggles in their areas Awareness -> idealogical structure -> formation of notions of collective actions & mitigation of some more of the more severe effect

Personal awareness is usually shared by the closest to them, i.e. family & friends = collective mechanism for mutual emotional support

To finish school and help their families

To have a peaceful, land of their own, national freedom and freedom for the Bangsamoro

A desire for scholarships, teachers in their schools, schools in their village or at least roads and bridges to access nearby schools

To have health centers

To regain their culture