A Scarred Generation


Director: Mike Healy
Camera: Mike Healy
Producer: IRIN Films, Charlotte Cans
Duration: 6 minutes
Date: July 2013


Blurb:
A Scarred Generation tells the story of two Yemeni children: Ahmad and Amira, who have both been traumatized by conflict and are being treated at the al-Amal Hospital for the Treatment of Psychological Illnesses in Sana'a.
In recent years, Yemen has witnessed more than its share of violence - from tribal wars, battles between Al-Qaeda and government forces, and the instability that came with the Arab Spring. More often than not, children have been caught in the crossfire.
Psychologists warn of a scarred generation of children who are experiencing sustained psychological trauma from these conflicts. Affected children can suffer an inability to think clearly, a lack of confidence and a mistrust of others. They may also resort to aggressive behaviors. Without treatment, these traumas may contribute to a continuing cycle of violence.



Transcript:

Video: archive footage of a demonstration in Sana'a on 25/10/2011.

Slate: On 25 October 2011, during the Arab Spring in Yemen, 15-year-old Ahmad took part in a peaceful demonstration that turned violent.

Soundbite Ahmad (in Arabic):
I'm in the area where I was shot. This place, the street right there.
I was shot by thugs and snipers who were over there.
It's like a nightmare and I feel really upset when I pass the street I was shot in. It's really bad.
This is the place where I was shot. Shot by a bullet.

Slate: After more than a year of experiencing the symptoms of post-traumatic stress, Ahmad is advised to visit a psychiatric hospital.

Dialogue between the psychiatrist and Ahmad (in Arabic):
- Has your ability to function day-to-day changed? Walking, moving?
- I can't walk around like before. Now I'm handicapped. I don't mean I can't walk, but I'm handicapped inside.
- For some sufferers, their ability to enjoy life - their love for life - decreases.
- Of course, I'm telling you that I feel sad, but it's difficult to really explain how I feel.
Even if I smile, it's a fake smile.
- To express your real feelings. [Is this a complete translation? Seems awkward.]
-Yes, I feel sad.
- I've never talked about it until now.
- It upsets you?
- A lot.
- The therapy sessions will help you process what happened.
- I want these sessions.
- Your desire to study and your outlook on life will improve.
But you won't forget because this is unforgettable.
- I haven't forgotten.

Dr. Ayed Talha, psychiatrist (in English):
Children are specialised group of patients, you have to deal with them differently. In recent years we started seeing a lot of children suffering form the consequences of trauma. The majority as a result of war.

Slate:
During the Arab Spring, some residential areas were caught in the crossfire as different factions bombarded each other.
A local girl, Amira, needed therapy after tragedy struck her family.


Ident: Dr. Ayed Talha, psychiatrist

Soundbite (in English):
Now we are going to see a girl who came to us for help. She was a victim of the conflict here in Sana'a. She went to the treatment and she improved I can say about 80%.

Dialogue between the psychiatrist and Amira (in Arabic):

- Okay, Amira. Can you describe what happened?
- My sister and I came in.
- My sister came in first and washed in the water. Then I said, "Okay, Wufa, you can go out." But she refused.
 A shell was heading towards my neighbour's house but hit the concrete wall here.
It ripped through the ceiling. We've replaced it now. But there are still fragments that fell right here.
- And your little sister was with you?
- Yes, but I was crouching down, and the shrapnel hit my back.

Amira's mother (in Arabic):
I heard the sound of the shell exploding.
This one came to me and said, "Mum, I've been burned. I've been burned."
I don't know what happened next. I took some water and put it on her when I saw the blood.
I heard her little sister crying. She was lying in the storeroom.
I saw her brains on the wall. I tried not to look. I tried to lift her. She was all black.

Psychiatrist and mother (in Arabic)
- How did you hear her? She shouted?
- Yes, she cried.
- She cried before she died.
- Yes.
- How old was she?
- Three and a half.

Amira (in Arabic):
I became different from the way I was before. In the past I was happy, but now I'm not.


Psychiatrist (in English):
It is now well established that children exposed to rtauma are more likely to become aggressive later in their life, when they become adults. They are more prone to become antisocial personalities, they are more likely to suffer from depression alter in life, they are more likely to suffer from anxiety disorders later in life. SO we'll have a crippled society in the end if we don't give them appropriate care and if we don't identify the problems,


Slates:
Amira has completed her treatment and is now back at school.

Ahmad still suffers from pain in his spine, but he is making good progress with his therapy.

Yemen has one of the lowest psychiatrist-to-patient ratios in the Arab world.


ENDS.