The human cost of war is incalculable
Extended leave in the hotel industry is being talked about, and if this situation goes on longer, job losses may follow, forcing workers to go back home
Published: 04:03 PM,Mar 23,2026 | EDITED : 08:03 PM,Mar 23,2026
As war rages around our neighbourhood and shows no signs of abating, it is perhaps too soon to calculate its cost. Already, experts have weighed in on the physical costs of destruction, of energy prices spiralling up and the stock market crashing.
While such costs are tremendous and will actually impact households worldwide, it is the human story that remains untold, as is often the case in conflicts.
On the one hand, there are traumatic visuals of young children killed in an air strike on their school in Iran, and the brutal destruction that follows bombing in urban areas around Tehran.
On this side of the Arabian Gulf, the cost to lives has been, fortunately and so far, being contained. But the panic, uncertainty and fear in a region historically known for its stability and peace have been unprecedented.
Currently, news reports suggest that around 25 people have been killed across all the countries in the Gulf. Most of them were migrants whose only dream was to support their families back home. Little would they have suspected that going to one of the world’s safest regions would impact them in this way.
The daily reports of alarms ringing at the approach of missiles in all the Gulf countries, except Oman, have kept the population on edge. Entire communities were suddenly made to change their routines with offices, schools and colleges going online. While everyone goes about their daily lives, they are also looking out for the next ping of the phone, the next alarm.
Students’ futures have also been upended. With the cancellation of the school-leaving exams of Indian schools, an entire cohort of thousands of students are currently in limbo, without any clarity on how they will be graded. This exam is important for their future careers as it determines the professions they will pursue.
Of course, there have been all the stories of tourists, visitors and individuals caught in the cross hairs of the conflict, unable to get back home on time. A woman tourist had to wait over a week to travel for her chemotherapy session, a young man could not attend his father’s funeral and another couldn’t go on his long-awaited leave to see his 1-year-old daughter for the first time.
The conflict is having an impact on major industries like tourism and hospitality. Extended leave in the hotel industry is being talked about, and if this situation goes on longer, job losses may follow, forcing workers to go back home. These migrant workers often pay a fortune to middlemen to facilitate their travel and are deep in debt. They will not be able to pay back if they lose their livelihood and this will severely impact their families back home.
Wars never end well. But, while the reports of gains and losses at a macro level will be counted by many experts, it is the daily lives of those who are not even aware of these events that are affected the most. Hopefully, these stories will end positively.