Children
of war
Nearly ten months after the Israeli incursion in Gaza, the scars point to
the suffering of the region’s most vulnerable. Remona Aly examines
what measures are being put in place to help the children of conflict.
It is said that a child’s smile is one of life’s greatest
blessings. Something as simple as a smile is often
taken for granted, but when it is taken away what
blessing is there left to enjoy?
Just over a year ago, Gaza saw the beginning of the
bloodiest war it had witnessed when the Israeli army
continued its relentless onslaught causing well over a
thousand Palestinian deaths. The most vulnerable to
suffer the war’s blow were the children of Gaza.
The trauma suffered by the 800,000 Palestinian
children, half of whom are under 15, growing up on
the West Bank and Gaza Strip has been the subject
of numerous reports in recent years. The numbers of
children showing symptoms of trauma increased dra-
matically during the incursion which began on 27th
December 2008.
Charities rushing to work on the ground num- research in the Gaza Strip, which found that some
bered at around 300, and Muslim Aid was one of the 32.7% of children suffer severe levels of post-traumatic
lucky few to get through the Gaza blockade to look at stress disorder (PTSD), 49% moderate levels, and 16%
the devastating repercussions the attack has had, par- low levels.
ticularly on children. The picture they paint is grim. Fatima Ahmad ad-Da’alsa, a widow from Gaza,
The daily instances of violence and confrontation has speaks anxiously about her son Saa’id. “This boy,
led to behavioural problems as well as high rates of whom you see is quite big, used to run to me crying
depression and anxiety. Soon after the war, the Gaza when he heard the horrible loud bombs. I used to hug
Community Health Programme estimated that half of him and calm him down. We would to shroud our
Gaza’s children, around 350,000, would develop some children in their beds. They used to shiver and cry
form of post-traumatic stress disorder. Tragically, that even while we hopelessly hugged them, fed them, reas-
was proved true. sured them. The fear was unquenchable.”
“The psychological effects of violence (on chil- Muslim Aid has been supporting existing psycho-
dren) are severe and traumatising,” asserts Dr Eyad social programmes at the Palestine Trauma Centre,
El Sarraj, Chair of the Gaza Community Mental providing psychosocial treatment for traumatised
Health Programme. “While many injured children children and their families. The Palestine Trauma
have acquired a permanent physical disability, many Centre provides a place where young children can
more have developed psychological impairments. The engage in normal activities in order to help them
prevalence of neurotic symptoms and behavioural come to terms with the painful reality of the war and
problems among children, such as disobedience or the damage to their homes and families’ livelihoods.
irritability, is high.” Dr El Sarraj quotes some recent The programmes provide a safe environment with
78 emel magazine |
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