War and its Effect on Human Security
By: Antonio Ortiz
Human security is something that is guaranteed to all people around the world. Human security includes basic rights such as an education, an overall feeling of being safe, and accessibility to shelter. However, these rights are being violated because of the tragedies of war. War is also affecting the human security of children, through education. This review of literature will inform readers on how conflict affects the human security of people in war stricken countries. The review of literature will include graphs that show education declines in specific countries. Statistical information from tables and graphs will also be used in order to prove that war negatively affects human security.
Human security is a right that a person has no matter what circumstances their country is in. Under human security people have the right to an education, food, health, shelter, and the ability to feel secure from simply being outside. One of the circumstances that challenges the human security of people in a country is war. The tragic consequences of war hurts these rights very much. War does not respect the boundaries of civilians, and it is the governments job to ensure that the citizens are kept out of harm's way. War causes people's homes to be destroyed. This causes people to flee from war ravaged countries, into refugee camps. It also causes for people to feel insecure in everyday life because they fear of shots being fired from enemy countries. The condition of human security is especially worse in countries that are in a constant state of war, such as those in the middle east. Those countries suffer great population losses since their rights are being violated. In order to explore the effects of war on human security, four questions are to be considered:
1. How does war affect the education of children?
2. What is being done to help people who are suffering because of war?
3. How does war have an effect on the nourishment of the people?
4. How are people in war ravaged countries being displaced?
The tragic events of war is damaging human security by affecting education, nourishment, and adequate shelter.
How does war affect the education of children?
The governments of war-stricken countries mainly direct funding to go towards the military. The military needs to be equipped with more artillery and other resources that will improve their tactics. However, this means that other services and programs suffer a decrease in funding from the government. One of these programs that gets severely affected is education. The case of Syria is a good example of how children are having their human security violated through education. In Syria, schools are not receiving funds in order to pay their employees. This low funding towards schools, is causing teachers to go unpaid and not have classes for the children in school. (Human Security Report Project, 2012) Children in Syria are suffering a major decrease in education because they are not attending their classes, due to the lack of teachers and staff. This violates human security towards children because they are being deprived the right to attend school and get an education. Cote d'Ivoire also shows the impact of war on school attendance rates.
By: Antonio Ortiz
Human security is something that is guaranteed to all people around the world. Human security includes basic rights such as an education, an overall feeling of being safe, and accessibility to shelter. However, these rights are being violated because of the tragedies of war. War is also affecting the human security of children, through education. This review of literature will inform readers on how conflict affects the human security of people in war stricken countries. The review of literature will include graphs that show education declines in specific countries. Statistical information from tables and graphs will also be used in order to prove that war negatively affects human security.
Human security is a right that a person has no matter what circumstances their country is in. Under human security people have the right to an education, food, health, shelter, and the ability to feel secure from simply being outside. One of the circumstances that challenges the human security of people in a country is war. The tragic consequences of war hurts these rights very much. War does not respect the boundaries of civilians, and it is the governments job to ensure that the citizens are kept out of harm's way. War causes people's homes to be destroyed. This causes people to flee from war ravaged countries, into refugee camps. It also causes for people to feel insecure in everyday life because they fear of shots being fired from enemy countries. The condition of human security is especially worse in countries that are in a constant state of war, such as those in the middle east. Those countries suffer great population losses since their rights are being violated. In order to explore the effects of war on human security, four questions are to be considered:
1. How does war affect the education of children?
2. What is being done to help people who are suffering because of war?
3. How does war have an effect on the nourishment of the people?
4. How are people in war ravaged countries being displaced?
The tragic events of war is damaging human security by affecting education, nourishment, and adequate shelter.
How does war affect the education of children?
The governments of war-stricken countries mainly direct funding to go towards the military. The military needs to be equipped with more artillery and other resources that will improve their tactics. However, this means that other services and programs suffer a decrease in funding from the government. One of these programs that gets severely affected is education. The case of Syria is a good example of how children are having their human security violated through education. In Syria, schools are not receiving funds in order to pay their employees. This low funding towards schools, is causing teachers to go unpaid and not have classes for the children in school. (Human Security Report Project, 2012) Children in Syria are suffering a major decrease in education because they are not attending their classes, due to the lack of teachers and staff. This violates human security towards children because they are being deprived the right to attend school and get an education. Cote d'Ivoire also shows the impact of war on school attendance rates.
War not only affects education through attendance rates, but also by destruction. "War can destroy or seriously damage schools and other educational institutions." (Human Security Report Project, 2012) During conflict times, the destructions reaches the schools. With schools being destroyed, children do not have a place to learn. This again shows how war affects education in children, which is part of their human security. "In Iraq the Ministry of Education reported that there were 31,598 attacks on educational institutions between March 2003 and October 2008." (Human Security Report Project, 2012)
What is being done to help people who are suffering because of war?
In countries such as Syria, aid workers are helping out the war struck people. In Syria, the city of Homs was a hard hit region because of conflict. The ongoing war in this city has caused many of its civilians to flee the country. These people that leave the country are in search of refugee camps. The main places where people flee to are Jordan, Turkey, Lebanon, and Iraq. (Huber & Reid, 2014) These refugee camps are placed for people who leave their country due to unsafe conditions. This is one way that the war affected people are receiving aid. Aid workers are also trying to provide relief to the people of the city of Homs. Since the war started, accessibility to food has been a challenge. Many food providing institutions have been destroyed because of the war, causing people to go hungry. Aid workers in the city have provided 1,500 people with food that will last for one month. (Krever, 2014)
What is being done to help people who are suffering because of war?
In countries such as Syria, aid workers are helping out the war struck people. In Syria, the city of Homs was a hard hit region because of conflict. The ongoing war in this city has caused many of its civilians to flee the country. These people that leave the country are in search of refugee camps. The main places where people flee to are Jordan, Turkey, Lebanon, and Iraq. (Huber & Reid, 2014) These refugee camps are placed for people who leave their country due to unsafe conditions. This is one way that the war affected people are receiving aid. Aid workers are also trying to provide relief to the people of the city of Homs. Since the war started, accessibility to food has been a challenge. Many food providing institutions have been destroyed because of the war, causing people to go hungry. Aid workers in the city have provided 1,500 people with food that will last for one month. (Krever, 2014)
The refugee camps that these people are fleeing to are also receiving aid. The camps desperately need this aid since they are all getting enormously packed. The overpopulated refugee camps are causing families to live in harsh unsanitary conditions. This is a reason why they need funding. The United States has sent $100 million to Syria for humanitarian purposes. (Klapper & Lee, 2013) This money will help the refugee camps deal with their overpopulation problems by providing more food and health. The money will also help the refugee camps provide more adequate shelter to the people living in them. The aid will also go towards U.N agencies that provide relief for the children in the refugee camps, as well as those who are still living within the violent borders of Syria. The U.S has also helped out the war victims by sending an additional $32 million to Lebanon, and $9.5 million to Turkey. (Klapper & Lee, 2013)
UNICEF is also helping out people who are victims of war. Also in Syria, children are receiving aid on behalf of UNICEF. This organization is providing relief to children in Syria by providing immunizations. "Working with partners, UNICEF has planned to immunize 2.2 million children under five inside Syria and 23.7 million children in surrounding countries against polio." (UNICEF, 2014) By providing children with vaccinations, the risk of getting a disease lessens. These vaccinations really help, especially because polio is still an attainable disease in this part of the world.
How does war have an effect on the nourishment of the people?
Food has been a major issue in Syria as the war has progressed. People are getting more desperate for food that they will go to extreme measures to obtain it. “Nobody is able to actually feed themselves, feed their children, feed their families, with anything but the weed, the grass that they can pick on the side of the curb and what little that they can eke out from what they’ve saved over time,” (Krever, 2014) This evidence came from the CNN website. The author of this article is Mick Krever and he is a journalist for the television station CNN. The quote supports the fact that these people are being denied the human security right to adequate food.
The agricultural sector of Syria has also been severely damaged by conflict. A primary reason for the downfall of agriculture is the limitation of resources. Since the start of the war in Syria, the government has allowed urban clients and military-security networks to use resources. (Woertz, 2014) The evidence presented came from an article written by Eckart Woertz. Since the government has allowed only those organizations to use resources, agricultural programs do not have the materials necessary in order to produce food. Along with these restrictions and a massive drought, farmers and agricultural institutions have received very little support. War has also caused a major decrease in crude oil production. "The war has aggravated the problem as crude production has plummeted and the EU has sanctioned Syrian oil exports." (Woertz, 2014) The article mentions that because of low oil production, prices to obtain it rise. As a result, farmers cannot afford to buy diesel gas in order to use for irrigation of crops. (Woertz, 2014) Problems like these are what causes malnutrition among the Sryian people. It also causes less food to be sent to refugee camps.
Food has been a major issue in Syria as the war has progressed. People are getting more desperate for food that they will go to extreme measures to obtain it. “Nobody is able to actually feed themselves, feed their children, feed their families, with anything but the weed, the grass that they can pick on the side of the curb and what little that they can eke out from what they’ve saved over time,” (Krever, 2014) This evidence came from the CNN website. The author of this article is Mick Krever and he is a journalist for the television station CNN. The quote supports the fact that these people are being denied the human security right to adequate food.
The agricultural sector of Syria has also been severely damaged by conflict. A primary reason for the downfall of agriculture is the limitation of resources. Since the start of the war in Syria, the government has allowed urban clients and military-security networks to use resources. (Woertz, 2014) The evidence presented came from an article written by Eckart Woertz. Since the government has allowed only those organizations to use resources, agricultural programs do not have the materials necessary in order to produce food. Along with these restrictions and a massive drought, farmers and agricultural institutions have received very little support. War has also caused a major decrease in crude oil production. "The war has aggravated the problem as crude production has plummeted and the EU has sanctioned Syrian oil exports." (Woertz, 2014) The article mentions that because of low oil production, prices to obtain it rise. As a result, farmers cannot afford to buy diesel gas in order to use for irrigation of crops. (Woertz, 2014) Problems like these are what causes malnutrition among the Sryian people. It also causes less food to be sent to refugee camps.
How are people in war ravaged countries being displaced and how has it affected them?
The war has caused many people to flee Syria. Civilians are forced to flee their home country because of the dangers of war, which causes these people to be displaced. This necessary flee to a safer country violates human security because of shelter. According to basic human security principles, every person has the right to obtain adequate shelter. "Nearly 9 million Syrians have been displaced by the fighting- 6.5 million within Syria, and about 2.4 million as refugees in neighboring countries." (Huber & Reid, 2014) War displacement is causing a major decline of population in Syria.
The civilians are also being displaced by having to find refuge at refugee camps. As mentioned before, the top refugee camps are in Jordan, Turkey, Lebanon, and Iraq. With human security, people should not have to be forced to move out of their homes because of war. Even though aid is being directed to refugee camps, it does not seem to be enough. "Depending on which country refugees have come to, they have take up residence in communities' abandoned buildings, sheds, spare rooms, garages, and in tent settlements on vacant land." (Huber & Reid, 2014) This evidence clearly shows that refugee camps do not provide people with adequate shelter due to a lack in funds. The displacement of these people has caused them to develop malnutrition and disease. "Children are especially susceptible to malnutrition and disease due to lack of food and poor sanitary conditions." (Huber & Reid, 2014) The displacement of families has caused people and children to attract diseases because of unclean conditions and no food. Thousands and thousands of people in Syria have been displaced because of the war. Many countries around this war stricken area have high numbers of refugees. "A UNHCR breakdown of refugees by country shows 900,000 in Lebanon, 600,000 in Turkey, 590,000 in Jordan, 215,000 in northern Iraq, 135,000 in Egypt, 20,000 in North Africa, and 30,000 in other countries." (UNHCR, 2014) These great numbers of displacement raise questions on whether or not war has an effect on human security.
The war has caused many people to flee Syria. Civilians are forced to flee their home country because of the dangers of war, which causes these people to be displaced. This necessary flee to a safer country violates human security because of shelter. According to basic human security principles, every person has the right to obtain adequate shelter. "Nearly 9 million Syrians have been displaced by the fighting- 6.5 million within Syria, and about 2.4 million as refugees in neighboring countries." (Huber & Reid, 2014) War displacement is causing a major decline of population in Syria.
The civilians are also being displaced by having to find refuge at refugee camps. As mentioned before, the top refugee camps are in Jordan, Turkey, Lebanon, and Iraq. With human security, people should not have to be forced to move out of their homes because of war. Even though aid is being directed to refugee camps, it does not seem to be enough. "Depending on which country refugees have come to, they have take up residence in communities' abandoned buildings, sheds, spare rooms, garages, and in tent settlements on vacant land." (Huber & Reid, 2014) This evidence clearly shows that refugee camps do not provide people with adequate shelter due to a lack in funds. The displacement of these people has caused them to develop malnutrition and disease. "Children are especially susceptible to malnutrition and disease due to lack of food and poor sanitary conditions." (Huber & Reid, 2014) The displacement of families has caused people and children to attract diseases because of unclean conditions and no food. Thousands and thousands of people in Syria have been displaced because of the war. Many countries around this war stricken area have high numbers of refugees. "A UNHCR breakdown of refugees by country shows 900,000 in Lebanon, 600,000 in Turkey, 590,000 in Jordan, 215,000 in northern Iraq, 135,000 in Egypt, 20,000 in North Africa, and 30,000 in other countries." (UNHCR, 2014) These great numbers of displacement raise questions on whether or not war has an effect on human security.
Regardless of the circumstances that a country or region is in, the boundaries of human security must be respected. A civilian needs to be able to feel safe by simply walking outside of their own home. The rules of human security also have to be followed during times of war. In the case of war, governments must take the initiative to protect the human rights of the people of their country. In doing so, people's rights will be protected and more lives will be saved. In the future, war stricken countries could direct more funds in order to establish more human security institutions. These institutions would ensure tranquility for the civilians during times of conflict. Securing the basic rights of individuals can improve the condition of human security, which can cause a country to have less declines in education, nourishment, and adequate shelter.
References
Huber, Chris, & Reid, Kathryn. (2014). World Vision. FAQs: War in Syria, children, and the refugee crisis. Retrieved March 2, 2014 from http://www.worldvision.org/news-stories-videos/faqs-war-syria-children-and-refugee-crisis.
Human Security Report Project, Human Security Report 2012: Sexual Violence, Education, and War: Beyond the Mainstream Narrative, (Vancouver: Human Security Press, 2012).
Klapper, Bradley, & Lee, Mathew. (2014). U.S. To Provide $100 Million In New Syria Aid For Humanitarian Purposes Only. Huffington Post. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/05/08/us-syria- aid-humanitarian_n_3237964.html
Krever, Mick. (2014). Syrians forced to eat grass; aid worker says deprivation worst he’s ever seen. CNN. Retrieved March 2, 2014 from http://amanpour.blogs.cnn.com/2014/02/11/syrians-forced-to-eat-grass-aid- worker-says-deprivation-worst-hes-ever-seen/?hpt=hp_t3.
UNHCR. (2014). Syrians internally displaced by war expected to nearly double to 6.5 million by year’s end – UN. UN News Centre. https://www.un.org/apps/news//story.asp?NewsID=470 84&Cr=syria&Cr1=
UNICEF. (2014). Syrian Children in Crisis. Unicef united states fund. http://www.unicefusa.org/work/emergencies/syria/
USAID. (2014). Syria. USAID From the American People. Retrieved March 20, 2014 from http://www.usaid.gov/crisis/syria.
Woertz, Eckart. (2013). What do Syrians eat? Food and the war economy. Open Demoracy. Retrieved March 20, 2014 from http://www.opendemocracy.net/eckart- woertz/what-do -syrians-eat-food-and-war-economy.
How Can Different Genres Be Used?
Find Out More Find out information on how genres are used to describe issues. |