VIOLENCE. Psychological Consequences of organized violence and Terror: Psychotrauma from latest scientific knowledge to practical field work. The world has witnessed an escalation of violence and atrocities in an increasing number of armed conflicts. Modern warfare aims at threatening and fighting civilians rather than foreign armies. The global intensification of violence aimed at civilians in conflict situations results in a colossal challenge for aid organizations. This realize that survivors need more than medical emergency intervention and food provisioning. Many victims need psychological support and treatment in dealing with their traumatic experiences in order to regain the capability to care for themselves and their dependents. Psychological, social and human rights based interventions are required to facilitate the development of new and peaceful societal ways of living. · Many expatriates who work for aid organizations witness violent acts or realize that they are at potential risk for becoming a victim of organized violence. Practically all field workers in crisis regions hear from victims about atrocities and see the psychologically consequences in survivors. While not all the consequences are readily identified by the untrained eye, and while a naive observer may not necessarily understand the connections between violence and severe psychological problems, such observations consistently affect the witness and can even lead to vicarious traumatization in the aid personnel. Training and adequate safety measures are mandatory to protect the psychological well-being and health of the field workers and to ensure a high standard of professionalism.
web communications