The Israel – Palestine war. Russia – Ukraine war. These wars have been going on for some time. From the very moment they started, they have already faced a great amount of loss from both sides. As well as the fact that prices of basic necessities increase because the supply of those necessities are less in number. Not to mention that people lose their homes from such catastrophes. Having to move because your home is unsafe now is such a tragedy. Yet that is the reality for the millions who are going through this situation. Moving to safe places while worrying about the place you grew up, at the thought of its very destruction is sad on its own.
The economic side of these wars does not just stay inside the places where the fighting is happening either. It spreads out to the rest of the world and affects everyday people in ways you might not even realize right away. Things like gas prices going up really high, groceries getting way more expensive, and simple items becoming hard to find in stores. When items cannot travel across borders easily, everything gets marked up. Which makes life pretty tough even for people who live really far away from where the war is taking place.
But as hard as high prices are for us, for the people living right in the middle of it, it is a whole different story. It becomes a matter of daily survival. Having to worry about where your next meal will come from or if you will have clean water to drink is a reality no one should ever have to face.
The psychological toll such events have is innumerable. Depression, anxiety and post-traumatic stress disorder just to name a few. According to the National Institutes of Health, approximately 36% of adults affected by conflict develop PTSD, suffering from flashbacks, severe anxiety and intrusive nightmares. The deep grief over family, homes and stability that was once comforting is now gone, triggering deep depressive disorders. Kids who are growing up in these conditions lose their childhood way too early. Instead of going to school without a care, playing outside, or sleeping peacefully in their own beds, they have to learn what danger sounds like. They have to adapt to living in fear every single day. That kind of mental weight does not just go away once the fighting stops. It stays with a person for years and years.
However, during such situations, a lot of people come together to get through it together. Uniting in times of crisis. Which is good because it means that no singular person is alone, they have a whole community or group of people behind them. The people will be there for anyone and everyone who is struggling. They will try to raise morale despite the events that are unfolding. Neighbors, volunteers, and even people who were total strangers before are stepping up to help each other out. Building temporary shelters, sharing whatever food they have left, and just listening to each other cry or talk about what they lost. In times when everything feels completely ruined, these actions remind everyone that there is still good in the world.
It goes to show that even in the darkest moments, humanity finds a way to show its strength. War can destroy physical buildings, tear up towns, and force people out of their homes, but it cannot strip away the kindness and connection people hold for one another. That sense of unity becomes the very thing that helps victims survive day by day. When everything else breaks down around them, it is the local people and small groups who step up to take care of one another.
For the rest of us who are watching all of this happen on our phones or on the news, it is super easy to feel hopeless. Seeing so much bad news back to back makes you feel like anything you do is too small to matter. But just caring and keeping the conversation going is already important. Sharing what is happening, supporting organizations that send help, and not turning a blind eye are simple ways we can show that we care.
At the end of the day, no matter how long these wars go on or how much harm they cause, the strength of people coming together will always mean more than the destruction itself. War shows us how bad things can get, but the way people support each other through it shows us how strong we can really be. That togetherness is what gives people the hope to keep going and rebuild when it is all over.
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