Children of War

400 million children are affected by wars worldwide. Medical care in their home countries often collapses completely. Their only life-saving measure is an operation abroad.

Refugees and wars forcing people to leave their home countries have been a main topic of international media within the last years. But most victims of war remain invisible to us in our safe bubble. Especially in times when Europe is once again sealing itself off from refugees in an absolutely inhumane way. These „invisible“ never make it out of their country and the conflict zones because they are too sick, too weak, too old or too young. According to UNICEF, also 400 million children are affected by wars worldwide. In war zones medical care often collapses completely. For a large part of the population necessary treatment is no longer possible. Complicated operations can not be carried out even years after a conflict because qualified staff and infrastructure are missing. For patients this simply can imply death. In Europe, on the other hand, they can often be helped with standard operations. The NGO Friedensdorf International enables about 300 children to receive this life-saving medical treatment every year. Currently, most of them come from Angola and Afghanistan, countries in which wars have been raging for decades.

For the recovered children, a new beginning literally takes place after their return home. Although the conditions in the countries of origin have not improved, these children can now look to the future with more optimism. They have survived and, depending on the severity of the injury, can live without major impairment. Will be supplied with needed medical products from Germany.

With his ongoing series Binder followed the various phases of arrival, treatment in the hospital and life in the children’s home right up to the journey back home and experienced the great solidarity in which the children of different nations, religions, skin colours and cultures live together.