Exclusive – Fighting in Libya Leaves Psychological Scars on its Children

Displaced Libyan children look out of window at a school where they are taking shelter in Bani Walid, in May 2016. (AFP)
Displaced Libyan children look out of window at a school where they are taking shelter in Bani Walid, in May 2016. (AFP)
TT
20

Exclusive – Fighting in Libya Leaves Psychological Scars on its Children

Displaced Libyan children look out of window at a school where they are taking shelter in Bani Walid, in May 2016. (AFP)
Displaced Libyan children look out of window at a school where they are taking shelter in Bani Walid, in May 2016. (AFP)

A few days ago children from the Qasr bin Ghasir region, just south of the Libyan capital Tripoli, were forced to skip school due to the re-eruption of clashes between militias. The fighting has left its impact on all aspects of life, forcing the UN children’s agency, UNICEF, to double its efforts to assist those affected by the unrest.

The children in Tripoli are seen as victims of the armed clashes that erupt in Tripoli from time to time. The result is the suspension of classes and some schools are even turned into shelters for people who have been displaced by the violence.

One Tripoli local said that children have been “most harmed by the wars in the capital.” He explained that the militias occupy schools during the fighting, turning them into military command centers.

For its part, UNICEF said that it is providing aid to 1,251 children affected by the recent fighting in the capital. It has been helping them overcome the scars of displacement and suspension of schools. Moreover, it said that the Bayti center is also providing psychological and social support for the children affected by conflict. So far, 716 girls and 535 boys have benefited from this assistance.

Head of Libya's National Committee for Human Rights Ahmed Hamza said: “The violence and armed clashes in the country are having a catastrophic effect on children.”

Everybody is aware of the dangerous effect violence has on children living in an environment that is witnessing constant unrest, he told Asharq Al-Awsat.

“The effect of conflict also extends to children who become displaced along with their families inside Libya. This consequently leads to their deprivation of an education, security and a dignified life.”

A Tripoli resident noted that the violence in the city has impacted children’s games, in that they now use metal rods or plastic pieces to use as pretend guns, while imitating militia fighters.

UNICEF has warned in September that half a million children in Tripoli are exposed to direct danger from fighting, while 2.6 million throughout Libya are in need of aid.

UNICEF director for the Middle East and North Africa region Geert Cappelaere warned that an even greater number of children face several rights violations. He noted that more children are being recruited to fight, revealing that at least one child soldier has been killed.

Terrorist groups in the eastern city of Derna had previously used children in their fighting, even deploying them to the frontlines. Video circulated on local media has shown minors brandishing weapons after they have been taken away from their families and forced to join armed groups.



Gaza Rescuer Risks Life to Save Victim of Israel Strike

Thursday's Israeli strike on the Al-Tuffah neighbourhood northeast of Gaza city largely levelled the Dar al-Arqam school which Gaza's civil defense agency said served as a shelter for Palestinians displaced by the war. - AFP
Thursday's Israeli strike on the Al-Tuffah neighbourhood northeast of Gaza city largely levelled the Dar al-Arqam school which Gaza's civil defense agency said served as a shelter for Palestinians displaced by the war. - AFP
TT
20

Gaza Rescuer Risks Life to Save Victim of Israel Strike

Thursday's Israeli strike on the Al-Tuffah neighbourhood northeast of Gaza city largely levelled the Dar al-Arqam school which Gaza's civil defense agency said served as a shelter for Palestinians displaced by the war. - AFP
Thursday's Israeli strike on the Al-Tuffah neighbourhood northeast of Gaza city largely levelled the Dar al-Arqam school which Gaza's civil defense agency said served as a shelter for Palestinians displaced by the war. - AFP

Arriving in the deadly aftermath of an Israeli strike in northern Gaza last week, rescuer Nooh Al-Shaghnobi risked his life to aid the wounded despite warnings of another imminent attack.

In a video that has since gone viral on social media, civil defense member Shaghnobi can be seen desperately trying to pull a wounded man out from under a mound of rubble after a strike on a school on Thursday.

As he was working, a fresh evacuation order was issued by the Israeli military, warning of another strike on the same site, a school sheltering displaced people from across the territory.

"The scene was terrifying" as people fled the building, Shaghnobi told AFP, referring to the Dar al-Arqam school which Gaza's civil defense said served as a shelter for Palestinians displaced by the war.

"I became anxious, and the injured person grew even more distressed," he said.

"I tried to calm him down, telling him, 'I will stay with you until your last breath. We will die together if we must.'"

Shaghnobi said he dug with his bare hands through the debris to reach the wounded man's leg which was pinned under concrete.

"He kept calling out: 'Why did you come back, man? Leave me to die. Get out.'"

Shaghnobi said at one point the pair were the only people left in the building as Israeli reconnaissance drones flew overhead.

"I kept trying to pull him out, but I couldn't. I said to myself: 'This is the moment we die.'"

It was then that one of Shaghnobi's colleagues rushed over, warning that they had just 10 minutes to save anyone still alive before another strike hit.

Together they pulled with all their strength until the man's leg was freed.

"In that moment, my eyes welled up with tears, my body shaking from exhaustion," he said.

While initially hesitant, Shaghnobi's other colleagues arrived to help carry the wounded man to safety.

Gaza's civil defense agency said at least 31 people, including children, were killed in last Thursday's strike on the school in the Al-Tuffah neighbourhood, northeast of Gaza City.

Since the Gaza war began after Hamas's October 2023 attack on Israel, tens of thousands of displaced Palestinians have sought refuge in schools and other facilities in a bid to escape the deadly violence.

Most of Gaza's 2.4 million people have been displaced at least once since the war started.

On Wednesday, a strike on a residential block in Gaza City that housed many displaced people killed at least 23 people and wounded more than 60, according to Gaza's civil defense agency.

The Israeli military said it had targeted a "senior Hamas terrorist" in the attack.