On Thursday, June 23 at 19:30 GMT:
The majority of Gaza’s 800,000 children have only ever known life under the Israeli-led blockade, and they are suffering from a mental crisis because of it.
“TrapA recent report by Save the Children, shows that 80% of children and adolescents in Gaza suffer from depression, sadness and fear. The NGO interviewed 488 children and 168 parents and caregivers in the Gaza Strip, following up on similar research they did in 2018. Since their last report, the number of children Reports of distress have now increased from 55 to 80%.
Gazan children under the age of 15 have face to face The report addresses six life-threatening situations – four violent, military escalations as Israel seeks to quell the 2018 “Great Return” and the COVID-19 pandemic. Those complement the illegal Israeli-led blockade and continued restrictions on movement injury Gazans.
Experts warning that mental health challenges are hindering children’s development, learning and social interaction, both in the short and long term. They are urging the Israeli government to take immediate steps to lift the blockade of the Gaza Strip and end the occupation.
In this volume, we will discuss the state of the mental, psychological and social health of children in Gaza, and ask what is needed to nurture young minds and rebuild health services. psyche in the occupied territory.
In this episode of The Stream, we are joined by:
Dr. Yasser Abu Jamei
Psychiatrist and Director, Gaza Community Mental Health Program
Jason Lee, @JasonIanLee
Country Director, Save the Children
Enas Faras Ghannam, @GhannamEnas
Project Manager, We Are Not Numbers
