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We are working with our partner Islamic Relief to help children traumatised by years of violence in Gaza
Nine-year-old Mona lost both her parents in the Israel-Gaza conflict that devastated Gaza in January 2009.
“I get up every morning and ask myself who will comb my hair,” said Mona. “Who will hug me and care for me?
“I am no longer afraid of death and I expect to see more of it in the future.”
Mona, who lives in Zaytoon in the Gaza strip, is one of thousands of children who lost close members of their family in the conflict that according to the UN killed 13 Israelis and more than 1,390 Palestinians, more than 340 of them children.
Her elder brother, Hamil recalls huddling in a room with nine other members of his family, including Mona. “When the bomb hit the building, fire spread throughout the second floor,” recalled the 25-year-old. “There was blood and dead bodies everywhere. I lost my four-month-old daughter and my wife that day, as well as my mother and father.
“There was no time to think or feel. All I could do was search for those who had survived.”
Mona now lives with Hamil and her seven other brothers and sisters who survived the bombing. But the trauma that she has experienced will take years to heal.
“The happiest moments for me were when my mother and father took me shopping, and when I spent time drawing flowers, houses and trees,” she recalls. “But now all I can think about is war.”
200 children have received group or one-to-one counselling, or have attended activity sessions to help overcome their trauma
260 teachers and parents have been trained in how to deal with trauma and deal with difficult behaviour
According to reports, half of Gaza’s children - 350,000 people - will develop some form of post-traumatic stress disorder because of the environment of violence that they have grown up in.
On top of this Israel is continuing to enforce a blockade on Gaza. Basic building supplies such as cement, wood, steel and pipes are not being allowed in, thwarting any attempts by Gazans to try and rebuild after the destruction of the war.
For the many traumatised children this means that many are still homeless or are forced to live in damaged buildings. Even their schools cannot offer a respite, as the 18 destroyed and 280 that were damaged cannot be repaired.
Eyad el-Sarraj, a leading psychiatrist in Gaza explains how important environment is to children’s development.
“Children are resilient products of their environment,” he explains. “If you change the environment you change the child.
"They need a warm environment, encouragement, acknowledgement and security. These things aren’t available here so children grow up prematurely.
Together with our partner, Islamic Relief, we have opened a trauma counselling centre in Gaza where children like Mona can receive counselling and take part in activities that will help them overcome their trauma such as art and drama therapy.
We have also trained teachers and parents in how to support their children and cope with their often difficult reactions to the violence.
Ten-year-old Areej, who lost classmates in the conflict, has been attending sessions at the centre.
“We do drawings, mostly about the dangerous situations we faced,” she explains grabbing a coloured pencil.
“Then our teacher asks us to explain our drawings. I felt shy at first, but then I started talking about the most difficult moments during the war. I talked about the death of my classmate and the destruction of our town.
“When I draw I try to show the feelings of horror I felt. Posting drawings on the wall helped me to see what everyone else was going through.”
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