War's Silent Casualties: The Environmental Impact on Children's Lives
WAR | ENVIRONMENT
By Hala Sharafeddine
Introduction
What should you know about the ongoing war in the region and why should you care? Apart from politics, wars have detrimental effects on humans, especially children, changing their lives and environments forever. According to the “World Health Organization”, over 1.7 million children died in 2012 as a result of their exposure to an unhealthy environment. This is mainly because the developing bodies of children absorb toxic substances faster than adults, which can lead to long-term damage, disability, and death. The toxins these children absorb usually develop in the ground, rivers, or the food they consume. However, the environmental circumstances during an ongoing war present a stark contrast.
Relationship to Warfare
Throughout history, governments have used environmental degradation to inflict greater harm during war. They tended to pollute water streams, torch crops, cut down forests, poison soils, and kill animals to gain military advantage. War can also lead to land contamination, deforestation, depletion of natural resources, and the collapse of management systems. These effects inevitably ripple into human well-being—disrupting lives, displacing communities, and placing children and vulnerable populations at heightened risk. These tactics not only devastate ecosystems but also exacerbate displacement, human trafficking, and sexual violence. Thus, environmental damage caused by war can result in serious human rights violations and crimes against humanity.
Environmental Impact of War on Gaza
As of October 2023, the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) began heavily bombing the Gaza Strip followed by a gradual ground invasion. Ever since then, researchers have been unable to conduct sufficient field-based assessment work due to security reasons, but they have confirmed the presence of human remains, asbestos, and unexploded munitions all over Gaza. According to both Al Jazeera and The Washington Post, there are over 42 million tonnes of leftover debris from flattened buildings in Gaza, and it is estimated to take over 15 years to clear and rebuild. However, toxic components such as heavy metals, fire contaminants, unexploded ordnance, and hazardous chemicals were found in the debris and rubble, making the situation extremely difficult to deal with.
The IDF’s many bombings have severely impacted the war’s carbon footprint. According to The Guardian, over 281,000 metric tonnes of carbon dioxide were generated during the first sixty days of the war, equivalent to burning at least 150,000 tonnes of coal. The airstrikes in Gaza have also resulted in catastrophic spikes in land, soil, and water pollution, resulting in the rise of water-borne diseases. Moreover, waste management facilities have been destroyed, exposing Gaza to extreme water shortages. In addition to the lack of water, over 60% of the farmland, which acted as the food source for many displaced families, was destroyed. The people of Gaza’s intentional starvation violates international humanitarian laws as well as human rights.
Source: Daily Sabah
Environmental Impact of War on Lebanon
For more than a year now, the IDF has been using white phosphorus (WP) munitions in southern Lebanon, causing significant environmental damage to the civilian population, land, and infrastructure. WP is a highly flammable chemical compound that burns at high temperatures and produces toxic fumes harmful to humans. It can reignite when exposed to oxygen, indicating that the munitions continue to act as threats even after deployment. WP is generally used to create dense smoke capable of hiding and camouflaging military movements, and as of November 2023, it had been used 5 times in Lebanon. According to the American University of Beirut’s Nature Conservation Center, the WP munitions in Lebanon have resulted in around 56,500 casualties and injuries in addition to the displacement of around 426,000 people.
Studies have shown that an individual exposed to direct contact with burning WP suffers from toxic burns capable of resulting in death when affecting only 10% of the body. Moreover, WP fumes can cause severe irritation upon contact with an individual’s eyes. WP attacks are capable of significantly affecting one’s psychological state, resulting in weakness and a fear of the dark.
In addition to the long-term health effects that WP munitions might have, the exposure of agricultural lands to these toxic substances can lead to major fires and a significant drop in productivity.
Negative Impact on Children
The environmental consequences of the war in Gaza and Lebanon have far-reaching impacts on children’s lives, affecting their health and future development. The destruction of water infrastructure and the disruption of agriculture caused by airstrikes leave children vulnerable to waterborne diseases and malnutrition, as clean water and food become scarce. Additionally, the use of chemical and biological weapons, such as depleted uranium, heavy metals, and WPP, releases toxic substances into the environment. These toxins can interfere with children’s physical growth and cognitive development, posing long-term health risks.
The war also exacerbates environmental degradation, contributing to increased greenhouse gas emissions. This, in turn, heightens children's exposure to extreme weather events and natural disasters, making them more vulnerable to the impacts of climate change. Beyond these immediate threats, the presence of unexploded ordnance—such as mines, bombs, and shells—creates a hidden danger. Children, unaware of these threats, may come into contact with them, leading to severe injuries, disabilities, or even death. In all these ways, the environmental fallout from war places children at heightened risk, with both immediate and lasting consequences.
Call to Action
With this in mind, it’s evident that long-term medical and environmental studies are essential to truly understanding the war’s aftermath. Governmental institutions must issue clear guidelines aimed at protecting those in conflict zones. International NGOs and environmental organizations must be granted the freedom to investigate the profound environmental toll war inflicts on individuals and communities. The human rights violations carried out by this devastation should not go unrecorded; they deserve a rightful place in international courts as a testament to the merciless impact of this violence.
References
Al Jazeera. (2024, July 15). Clearing Gaza rubble could take 15 years, UN agency says. https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2024/7/15/clearing-gaza-rubble-could-take-15-years-un-agency-says
American University of Beirut Nature Conservation Center. (2023, November). The Socio-Environmental Impact of White Phosphorus Ammunition in South Lebanon. https://www.aub.edu.lb/natureconservation/Documents/Brief%20WP%20English.pdf
Child rights and the environment – the need for action. Human Rights Watch. (2020, October 28). https://www.hrw.org/news/2016/07/22/child-rights-and-environment-need-action
Guardian News and Media. (2024, January 9). Emissions from Israel’s war in Gaza have “immense” effect on climate catastrophe. The Guardian. https://www.theguardian.com/world/2024/jan/09/emissions-gaza-israel-hamas-war-climate-change
The UN is investigating the environmental impact of the war in Gaza. here’s what it says so far | Euronews. (n.d.). https://www.euronews.com/green/2024/03/06/the-un-is-investigating-the-environmental-impact-of-the-war-in-gaza-heres-what-it-says-so-
The war on nature: How to harness existing pathways to justice for children. Justice Rapid Response. (n.d.-b). https://www.justicerapidresponse.org/war-on-nature-2/
What it will take to rebuild Gaza after Mass Destruction of Israel War - Washington Post. (n.d.-b). https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/interactive/2024/gaza-reconstruction-rebuild-process-plans/
