The War in Gaza reignited ferociously early this month with civilians caught up in chaos they wish could be avoided. What can civilians do to survive the unfortunate circumstances of an armed conflict?
Here's a grim statistic from the United Nations: 90 per cent of war-time casualties are civilians. Casualties include both the dead and the injured. Civilians form the bulk of refugees. By May 2022, the number of people displaced across the world due to conflict had crossed the 100 million mark for the first time in history.
Despite the enactment of the rules of war aimed at protecting civilians, ordinary people often fall prey to combatants. Robert Mardini, director general of the International Committee of the Red Cross, describes the human cost of using explosive weapons in urban areas. Countless people get killed, homes are destroyed, hospitals are overwhelmed by complex injuries and survivors are left with lifelong disabilities.
"This clearly raises serious questions about how parties to such conflicts interpret and apply relevant rules of international humanitarian law," Mardini told the UN.
There's also the matter of indirect deaths which are not easy to count but are caused by the destruction of essentials such as livelihoods, healthcare, nutrition and shelter during war. According to the book titled Solferino 21: Warfare, Civilians and Humanitarians in the Twenty-First Century, indirect deaths in conflict are typically double that of direct violent deaths.
Civilians get poorer
The book points out that war is an economic disaster for civilians because of the displacement and impoverishment that come with it. Apart from leaving everything they own to avoid violent death, civilians abandon all income-generating activities due to the chaos.
Similar cases of abandonment have been reported in parts of Kenya afflicted by cattle rustling and terrorism. Farms and grazing land have been abandoned. Schools, hospitals, market centres and roads were destroyed forcing the civilian population to flee.
The Council on Foreign Relations confirms the effects of war on living standards. In 2019, 10 out of the world's 13 most urgent food crises were in conflict zones. Shops in conflict-affected countries often have empty shelves. The little supplies that can be found are very expensive. When civil war broke out in South Sudan in 2013, the price of a plate of bean stew shot up to the equivalent of $348 (Sh51,000).
The destruction of social and economic infrastructure makes economic recovery more difficult, the CFR states in a report. For example, the infamous Khmer Rouge of Cambodia destroyed 90 per cent of the country's schools between 1975 and 1979. Limited educational attainment contributed to decades of poverty for many Cambodians.
Many civilians wonder how they would react if violent conflict erupted in their locality. What do you do if your country is invaded? There are no rigid rules on how to survive a war because each conflict is different.
In some wars, fighting is restricted to combatants far away from populated areas. In other conflicts, civilians are clearly a target. Civilians may be targeted if one or more of the combatants believe the enemy is getting help from the public.
Despite the differences of each conflict, there are common strategies civilians can adopt during war. Interesting to note that wartime tips have not changed much since World War 2 as explained by the Imperial War Museum (UK).
Listen to official announcements and take them seriously. In times of crisis, civilians and combatants encounter all kinds of rumours. Have a radio so that you can stay informed on what's happening. As mobile phones are now a critical tool for communication, have a charger with you but avoid making unnecessary calls.
Take cover when bombs start falling around you. The World Health Organisation recommends underground basements as the best shelter from air strikes. If the bombing finds you outdoors, head for the nearest building. If you cannot find an underground shelter, take cover in the lowest part of a building.
Lying low
If there are no buildings immediately accessible, find the lowest area of ground such as a ditch and lie low. Splinters and shrapnel from an exploding bomb fly upwards, therefore the zone of greatest safety is the lowest level of the ground. Lie flat on your face and support your head in your arms.
If you do find cover inside a building, stay away from windows because they will shatter from the force of the blast. Avoid contact with a solid wall, because you may be injured by violent blows or earth shock. If no basement is available, bathrooms are a good alternative because they are solid and have few windows.
Wherever you find cover, close your eyes to protect them from debris. Keep your mouth slightly open to protect your lungs from the force of bomb explosions. Have plastic sheeting and masking tape (or some other adhesive tape) ready to put on your windows. This will help protect them from shattering due to the blast effect.
As a precaution, avoid large groups of people because they may be targeted by combatants. Do not go out to look at an air raid or to take photos.
"War is ugly," goes an oft-quoted saying. Throughout human history, people have survived wars by running away from conflict zones. When war comes to your area, be psychologically prepared to leave for the sake of your safety and that of your family. Pay attention to what is happening around you and act quickly if necessary. Make sure you have money in cash.
If you cannot leave where you are, learn first aid to help the sick and injured. Learn how to fight fires just in case your home is hit by an explosion.
Contrary to what is shown in the movies, joining an armed resistance reduces your chances of surviving a war. You may join an armed group if you believe in its cause, but doing so makes you a target for reprisals. If you want to stay safe, you are better off compromising with whichever army, militia or armed gang that happens to control your area.
