Exploring the Psychosocial problems of people affected by armed conflict in Selected Woredas of Wollo: Implications for Intervention

Abstract

The main objective of this study was to explore how the armed conflict has affected the psychosocial wellbeing of people in selected areas of Wollo, Ethiopia. A sample of 38 people was purposely selected and interviewed about their psychosocial experiences related to armed conflict. The epistemological stance adopted for this study was the phenomenological approach of research that focuses on exploring the lived experiences of participants affected by armed conflict. The results indicated that there were feelings of insecurity, hopelessness, trauma, sexual and physical violence, displacement, and other social and psychological problems among people affected and threatened by armed conflict. The problems were more severe for vulnerable groups such as children, women, the elderly, and people with disabilities. Participants reported that they passed through a terrible, frustrating, and suffocating situation with no access to basic services when their areas were occupied by rebel groups. Thus, government and non-government organizations should design appropriate intervention mechanisms to support people affected by armed conflict. Along with the humanitarian help, psychosocial support has to be intensively provided to people affected by the conflict to mitigate the problems accordingly.