Ways to Combat Risks and Threats to the Civilian Population during Complex Conflicts

Recent years have been characterized by the return of some phenomena considered obsolete by history. Rivalries between great powers seemed to be a thing of the past, in an era of globalization and spread of democracy. Political-military conflicts endanger the stability and security of the international system, which causes chaos throughout society, especially among civilians who are not familiar with complex conflicts. Because of these wars, many civilians choose to leave their, “home countries” and face a lot of physical and psychological problems. From a psychological point of view, prolonged exposure to war is significantly correlated with psychological stress. Prolonged exposure to psychological stress, characterized by sustained negative emotional states, is frequently associated with detrimental outcomes across various aspects of mental and physical health which include somatic/psychosomatic disorders, anxiety, irritability, self-harming behavior, psychotic disorders, and post-traumatic stress disorder. Because of the fact that the civilian population pays the highest price during wars, their protection and respect for International Humanitarian Law should represent key aspects of conflicts and a strategic and ethical imperative in all types of conflict.