Is Gaza a SIEGE!?

• SIEGE?

• Lack of supportive physical and social

environments

• Breakdown in social norms and values

• Panic

• Risk and Danger

• Trauma

Photo: Mads Gilbert, NORWAC

1. Lack of supportive physical and social environments

• Family separation

• Family stress

• Closed schools and kindergartens

• Lack of safe play space

2. Breakdown in social norms and values

• Lack of privacy

• Lack of regular routines and activities

• Post-war dependence

3. Panic

Reactions:• Emotions fade

away or disappear

• The perception of time is changed

Pattern of behaviour:

• Your body is in charge

• Fight • Flight• Freeze

4. Risk and Danger

• In the aftermath levels of resilience changes

5. Trauma

• A single event as an accident, sudden death, violent crime, rape, natural disasters, WAR or…..

• A complex trauma as an ongoing war abuse, violence within the family, bulling, hostage situation, ongoing war and torture

Photo: Mads Gilbert, NORWAC

Gaza doesn’t have 5.400 injured. Gaza have 1,5 million injured,

everyone is suffering

Photo: Mads Gilbert, NORWAC

Needs during the phase of denial

• A safe and secure place

• Structure

• Fulfilment of basic needs

• Not to be left alone

SIEGE?

Photo: Mads Gilbert, NORWAC

General reactions in crisis, disaster and distress

• Sadness, weeping, grief and missing persons, animals or material things

• Anxiety, vulnerability

• Anger, acting out, demand (insist on) attention

• Social isolation, feeling of guilt

• Emptiness – separated from reality.

• Hyper alertness.

• Blaming themselves, disgrace, dishonour

• Sleeping disorders Tensions

• Headache, stomach ache, extra vulnerable for infections, less or more appetite

• Lack of power of concentration – problems at school

• Regression and repetitive play

Children's Reactions in crisis, disaster and distress

Typical reactions of parents

• Less sensitive for the needs of their children

• Difficulties in expressing their emotions

• Less time/strength for care of their children

• Difficulties in keeping up rules in the family

• Difficulties in keeping up the daily structure/routines for the family

• More irritated and more protective

Palestinian children, Jabalya refugee camp, Gaza 1989 (First Intifada)

Photo: Mads Gilbert

Trauma, stress and resilience:

Children have a large coping capacity

Photo: Mads Gilbert, NORWAC

Gaza: Children and parents traumatic experiences

Thabet AA ea, Eur Child Adolesc Psychiatry, 2008

• Listen – when the child/youth wants to talk

• Be sensitive not pushy

• Avoid to say ” I know how you feel” or ”poor you”

What can we do?

Photo: Mads Gilbert, NORWAC

Children are the most vulnerable in the aftermath of emergencies and…

http://empire.blogsome.com/

…Gaza is a Siege?