The aftermath of violence and terror in Gaza has left a lasting impact on its children. The UN Children’s Fund is appealing for US$34.5 million (NZ$6.4million) to cover rehabilitation needs for Gaza’s children over a nine-month period. Homes, schools, hospitals and other infrastructure can be re-built, but for the children and their families the damage is more than just physical and can be long-lasting.

The psychological impact on children surrounded by death and violence could have the most permanent damage. Psychologists in the area have reported a new phenomenon where children have been so terrorised by recent events that they physically cannot speak. English teacher Myasoun Al-Emawi has noticed the psychological damage on her students.

 “In classrooms where there were students killed, some of their classmates were scared to enter the class and some other classmates refused to sit in the same place where children had been killed.” says Al-Emawi.

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UNICEF has already begun working on the issue and has teams of mental health professionals in Gaza to help children cope with the tragedy that has devastated their lives. UNICEF representative for oPt (the occupied Palestinian Territories), Patricia McPhillips has called for safe spaces to be created so that children can begin to have a sense of normalcy in their lives, “We are working on setting up 30 youth and protection centres for these children – community centres where they will be able to go while their families are trying to put their lives back together”.

 Schools can also act as a safe space for children and bring them back to normalcy. “The return to school provides an important opportunity for children to interact, play, rebuild their routines, and overcome distress”, said McPhillips.

UNICEF is also addressing the need for councilors and other professionals to assist with the psychological damage of children. “We are immediately targeting psychological [needs]. We have a team of councilors that is on the ground moving around now. We are also going to get education going”, says McPhillips.   

UNICEF’s contribution towards psycho-social support is aiming to benefit 500,000 children, 50,000 women and 5,500 caregivers.

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