Eleven-year-old Abdelrahman from Gaza has suffered deeply from war. An Israeli air strike killed his father and destroyed their home. On 16 July 2024, another strike hit his school in Nuseirat, seriously wounding Abdelrahman. Doctors had to amputate his leg. His mother, Asma al-Nashash, says he started pulling his hair and hurting himself. "He became like someone who has depression, seeing his friends playing and running around… and he's sitting alone," she said. Abdelrahman now lives in a hospital in Jordan along with dozens of other children evacuated from Gaza for treatment. "We will return to Gaza," he told reporters. "We will die there." War impacts millions of children worldwide. In 2024, 520 million children lived in conflict zones, about one in five globally, according to the Peace Research Institute Oslo. Prof Theresa Betancourt calls this "the largest humanitarian disaster since World War Two", warning trauma affects brain development, learning, behaviour, and long-term physical and mental health. Experts say responses vary. Prof Michael Pluess from the University of Surrey explains factors like the length of trauma, personal injuries, loss of close ones, and the child's environment influence mental health outcomes. Family support is vital. His studies among Syrian refugees show that stable housing, food, schooling, and parental care can protect children from worsening mental health. Research also explores epigenetics—whether trauma affects future generations via genetic changes. Though debated, some evidence suggests trauma's effects may pass on through family habits or possibly biology. Historically, studies from wartime Britain show how children's mental recovery also depends on their parents’ reactions. Prof Edgar Jones says, "The severity of a child's reaction to bombing was judged to be influenced by their parents' response to the trauma." Therapies like Control Focused Behavioural Treatment help children regain control over fears from traumatic events. Israeli psychologists working with children freed from Hamas captivity stress restoring a sense of control and security through listening, routine, and safety. Beata Umubyeyi Mairesse, once a genocide survivor from Rwanda, recalls how exile, stable foster care, and access to school helped her heal, though some fears remain. She highlights the need to balance sharing painful history with positive stories about her homeland. Psychologists in Gaza face challenges treating children amid ongoing strikes and destroyed communities. Volunteer Davide Musardo says, "In Gaza, one survives but the exposure to trauma is constant... children showed clear signs of regression." While ceasefires offer hope for peace and rebuilding, conflicts continue worldwide. Trauma remains a harsh reality for millions of children caught in wars they did not start. Experts agree real healing requires ending war itself and building safe, supportive environments for young survivors to thrive.