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Conflict & siege threaten Gaza’s young minds, claims new World Vision report
16 Apr 2009 23:51:40 GMT
 Source: World Vision Middle East/Eastern Europe/ Central Asia office
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World Vision warns that levels of psychosocial suffering among children may now be even more severe. Photo by Sarah Malian.
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World Vision warns that levels of psychosocial suffering among children may now be even more severe. Photo by Sarah Malian.
World Vision MEERO, http://meero.worldvision.org

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World Vision says in a report 'Why did you let me get hurt' released today, that the recent conflict in Gaza has compounded the psychosocial suffering of children caused by more than 22 months of siege and ongoing insecurity. Research conducted by World Vision over a number of years has shown ongoing threats to the psychosocial wellbeing of children...

A prior study commissioned by the organisation found that more than a quarter of children interviewed exhibited serious psychological reactions as a result of their exposure to past violence, and more than two-thirds exhibited reactions in the mild to moderate range.

Although it is still too soon to gauge the level of distress among Gaza's children since the recent conflict, World Vision warns that levels of psychosocial suffering may now be even more severe. When tensions boiled over into full-blown conflict late last year, 431 children were killed and 1,872 injured.

'While the death, destruction, and disability produced by the conflict are appalling, they are unfortunately just the beginning of the suffering of Gazans,' said Deputy Advocacy Director Jeff Hall. 'The suffering has also insidiously penetrated the hearts and the minds of those who have survived. In addition to the basic necessities of physical survival, these children need support that addresses their psychosocial needs.'

The report calls on the international community to urge governments to reconsider legal restrictions that prevent NGOs like World Vision from training teachers in psychosocial support methodology at public schools and from building playgrounds, playrooms, and other safe areas in public schools. 'What we've discovered is that the international community has somehow accepted the reality of the post-war situation, and does not take next steps to allow us to build playgrounds or train teachers to help the children cope with their loss,' said Jeff Hall, World Vision's Deputy Advocacy Director for the Middle East. Hall recently returned from a Gaza-visit.

The report also calls on the Government of Israel to immediately end all restrictions on goods brought into Gaza for humanitarian purposes as well as the import of toys, paper, crayons and other materials often used in psychosocial support and other educational programmes.

Such pleas on behalf of Gaza's children are affirmed by recent World Vision research into the psychosocial wellbeing of children in Gaza, which revealed that children identified teachers and counselors as their number one source of psychosocial support.

In contrast, just 24% of teachers in public schools have received training in how to provide psychosocial support to their students - over just three days of training in the past three years. Only a third of Gaza's public schools have safe play areas. Yet, there is the limited cooperation between public schools and civil society, including NGOs, as legal restrictions are imposed upon them.

'Gaza's children need both a sense of security and normality if they are to address their suffering and contribute positively to the region's future. But children in both the Palestinian Territories and Israel also need a lasting and equitable peace that offers them hope. They need the opportunity to lead lives without being confronted regularly by death, hunger, and fear. Children need to be given hope and prospects for the future', says the report.

'This requires a lasting political solution to the grievances on both sides. Beyond the politics are people's lives. Children's lives. And safeguarding those must the be the most important priority for those seeking a lasting solution to the violence that has devastated Gaza for too long', says World Vision International President Dean Hirsch in the forward of the report.

In addition to supporting some 25,000 sponsored children throughout the West Bank and Gaza and various development projects, World Vision has scaled up its activities to support 78,000 vulnerable individuals in Gaza. Blankets, hygiene kits, and food are being provided to those most affected, and psychosocial support programmes are being offered to 2,200 children. Child-friendly spaces offer a safe place to play, learn, and grow, and help children to cope with their experiences and the uncertainty they continue to face.

Download the report PDF here.

For more information and media coordination:

Jennifer Chiodo, Advocacy Associate
World Vision Jerusalem-West Bank-Gaza
Tel. +972 (0)2 628 1793 Ext. 136 (office)
Cell + 972 (0) 54 7749 536

Or:

Rienk van Velzen, Regional Communications Director World Vision MEER
Tel. + 31 180 52 5247
Cell + 31 6 5183 2040


[ Any views expressed in this article are those of the writer and not of Reuters. ]

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[ Any views expressed in this article are those of the writer and not of Reuters. ]

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