The conflict has been particularly devastating for neurodivergent individuals, who rely on stability and routine. Lena Kouyoumjian said her 20-year-old daughter Vana, who is autistic and non-verbal, has become more anxious and sensitive since the war intensified. “Any sudden change in routine, loud noises, fear, or uncertainty can increase their anxiety and make them feel unsafe,” Lena told Al Jazeera. Rising transportation costs have made it difficult for Vana to attend classes at the Autism Awareness Association (AAA), a specialized school outside Beirut.
Ghada Hayek Makhoul, co-founder of AAA, said her 27-year-old son Anthony is now triggered by war sounds. “Imagine the drones all the time, the bombs, and the vibration of the bombs … all of this that we were hearing, so of course it affected him a lot,” she said. He no longer watches television or enjoys swimming, activities he once loved.
The war has also strained AAA’s operations. Full-time attendance costs $700 per month, a sum most families cannot afford with 80 percent of the population living in poverty. The organization struggles to retain trained staff, who are leaving the country for better opportunities. “Things are in crisis mode for everybody during the war,” Ghada said.
Public health researcher Nour Toukan noted that care for autism or ADHD is “very much an out-of-pocket expense.” The government’s National Disability Allowance provides only $40 per month, insufficient for even basic needs. Dr. Rabih El Chammay, who leads the National Mental Health Programme, said a mental health strategy for children and teenagers is being finalized. “War makes this work more difficult because it can increase support needs while disrupting the services people depend on,” he said.
The article presents these accounts without alternative viewpoint, but illustrates how conflict disproportionately harms vulnerable groups.