Forced Displacement and its effects on children
What is Forced Displacement?
Forced displacement, in simple words, occurs when people are forced to move away from their home or home region involuntarily. The UNHCR defines 'forced displacement' as [when people are] displaced "as a result of persecution, conflict, generalised violence or human rights violations.
Displaced persons may also be referred to as refugees, migrants or asylum seekers. “Internally displaced persons” are people who have been displaced within their home country (e.g. from one region to a different region in the same country).
Currently, the level of forced displacement worldwide is at its highest in decades. According to the European Commission, at the end of 2022 108.4 million people were displaced worldwide, and 52% of all refugees originated from only 3 countries: Syria, Ukraine and Afghanistan.
What are the causes of forced displacement?
There are several reasons why forced displacement may drive people from their homes. These include (but are not limited to):
War and armed conflict, including invasion and civil war
Natural disasters such as earthquakes, floods, tsunamis, landslides, hurricanes and droughts
Drastic climate change
Criminal activity such as gang wars and drug-related violence
Political conflict
Forced migration by occupying forces
Environmental disasters
Slave trade, human trafficking and modern slavery
Ethnic cleansing
Colonisation
How does forced displacement affect children?
Being displaced from their home can have detrimental short and long-term effects on children. Prior to being physically displaced children, may be exposed to oppression, violence, food insecurity, lack of access to healthcare, or disruptions in their education.
During the process of displacement, children may be exposed to dangers associated with forced migration. These can include a lack of safe shelter, exposure to human trafficking, detention in a foreign country, risk of abuse, exploitation or early marriage, and physical danger.
Many displaced children are now growing up in refugee camps or temporary living situations. The European Civil protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations say that displacement now lasts 20 years on average for refugees and more than 10 years for internally displaced persons.
Mental health and forced displacement
A child’s basic needs include essentials such as:
Food
Water
Shelter
Warmth
Rest
Security and safety
When these needs are not met, a child’s growth can be deeply affected. This often happens when families experience displacement, domestic violence, or hardship. Despite parents' best efforts to shield them, children can still feel the tension, which can lead to anxiety, fear, or even rebellious behaviour. Over time, unmet needs can lead to lasting emotional and behavioural difficulties that extend into adulthood, affecting relationships, self-esteem, and the ability to handle stress. Understanding the impact of these early experiences is crucial in supporting children’s long-term wellbeing.
How can forced displacement affect children’s behaviour?
Children, more than adults, can find it especially difficult to cope with the trauma of displacement. Their ability to process complex emotions is still developing, and they may struggle to make sense of the changes around them. This can lead to confusion and a range of challenging behaviours that parents or caregivers may find difficult to understand.
Here is a list to help you identify what these behaviour changes might look like. This is not an extensive list, but rather a list of the most common behaviour changes associated with children experiencing a traumatic event:
Increased irritability or agitation
Becoming upset over things that previously wouldn’t have bothered them
Nightmares or night terrors
Bedwetting
Noticeable changes in appetite, either a significant loss or an increase
Losing interest in activities they once enjoyed, such as reading, drawing, or playing
Outbursts of anger or shouting
Physical reactions like hitting, biting, or scratching
Nail biting
Withdrawal from communication, not talking
Dissociating or zoning out during conversations
Difficulty following instructions or directions
If you notice consistent changes like the ones above in your child’s behaviour, it could most likely be because they are struggling to cope. In this instance, they would greatly benefit from extra support from yourself and trained professionals.
How can we support children who have experienced trauma through displacement?
Being able to recognise and acknowledge adverse experiences for children is the first step towards providing support to help them cope with trauma. Once identified, the next step would be to put in place a network of support best suited to your child, using the resources available to you.
Acknowledge their feelings:
Reassure them that it's okay to feel upset or confused. Simply listening can provide comfort.Explain daily routines:
A predictable routine helps a child feel safe.Introduce small consistencies:
Regular activities, like reading together after lunch, can create stability.Access necessary resources:
Ensure they have access to essentials like food, healthcare, and emotional support.Create familiarity:
Help them connect with familiar people or environments to feel grounded.Seek professional help:
Therapy, whether through talking or play, puppets or their favourite TV characters, can offer a safe space to process emotions.Reinforce positive behaviour:
Rewarding good behaviour helps build confidence.Make new memories:
Creating positive experiences can help children develop resilience during tough times.Look after yourself:
Self-care is vital too. When you take time for yourself, you’ll be better equipped to support your child through challenging moments.
How Our Books for Trauma Help Children Cope With Forced Displacement
Through being displaced, children will have experienced loss of their home, loss of their school and education, unfamiliar surroundings and people, fear of the disaster occurring again, grief, and uncertainty for their future.
How our books about displacement can help children:
Centre children’s experiences and feelings through being displaced from their home.
Validate children’s fears, worries, and insecurities due to the unstable conditions of being displaced from their home.
Offer guidance to parents/guardians in this situation including how to answer difficult questions, conversation prompts, and how to help make your child feel safe and secure.
Offer helpful do’s and don’ts for parents/guardians.
Include easy grounding exercises to help children identify and focus on their emotions.
Include a message of hope and positivity for the whole family in spite of the challenges they are facing.
Normalise discussing difficult topics with your children.
Encourage families to talk about what is happening and to seek support.
Help children feel less alone and listened to.
Include short-term and long-term guidance.
Inclusive of mental and physical trauma of being displaced.
Our books about displacement :
Sara and her Family Overcome Challenges After the Earthquake
Sara faces the loss of her home and school, and feelings of anxiety and fear after an earthquake in her city. Sara learns to overcome these challenges with her parents and friends.
The Yilmaz Family Learn How To Cope With Grief
Three children of different ages learn to cope with the loss of loved ones after a natural disaster. Join the Yilmaz children as they learn to cope with grief with the help of age-appropriate exercises.