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On Wednesday 3 July the London International Development Centre (LIDC) hosted a webinar titled “Children in Palestine: Mental Health Crisis and Actions for Trauma Recovery”. Chaired by Dr. Saleyha Ahsan, experts from Queen Mary University of London, Oxfam, and War Child Alliance discussed the mental health challenges faced by children in Gaza and the West Bank, along with potential recovery actions.

The webinar was chaired by Dr. Saleyha Ahsan, an emergency medical doctor and PhD candidate at the University of Cambridge, who opened the session with alarming UN statistics [1] from 26 conflict zones around the world: a 21% increase in grave violations against children in 2023. In Gaza, according to the Ministry of Health, more than 14,000 children have been killed since 7 October, and according to Save the Children [2] up to 21,000 children are estimated to be missing in the chaos of the war in Gaza, many trapped beneath rubble, detained, buried in unmarked graves, or lost from their families.

Bushra Khalidi, Policy Lead for the Occupied Palestinian Territory at Oxfam, described Gaza, the West Bank, and East Jerusalem as ‘graveyard for children’, stressing the vulnerability of children to explosive risks. She also highlighted the harsh realities faced by Palestinian children, with over 240 prosecuted in military courts and held in inhumane conditions in Israeli military prisons. Khalidi pointed out that Israeli attacks on vital infrastructure hinder humanitarian efforts, contributing to a breakdown in law and order. She urged global governments to hold Israel accountable under international law to end violence and ensure justice for Palestinian children.

Dr. Sevasti Foka, Senior Lecturer in Psychology at Queen Mary University of London, characterised Palestinian trauma as ongoing, accumulated, and intergenerational. She advocated for culturally sensitive, community-based interventions for children affected by war. Dr. Foka emphasised embedding local leadership and social capital in preventive measures to foster strong community ties, cultivate faith-based support systems, and build resilience. She shared successful resilience-building programs from her work at QMUL, improving children’s self-esteem and optimism in various regions.

Finally, Kieran King, Head of the Humanitarian at War Child Alliance, discussed the challenges of delivering aid and future strategies for mental health and psychosocial support (MHPSS) in Gaza. He highlighted challenges, including inadequate measures to address widespread trauma and structural barriers hindering MHPSS delivery, such as the absence of local infrastructure, national counterterrorism laws, and a range of donor compliance issues. King proposed solutions such as (i) collaborative planning with local actors and civil society, (ii) integrating mental health policies with local health and education systems, and (iii) providing long-term operational support and funding to rebuild Gaza’s mental health support infrastructure.

After the presentations, the audience engaged in a lively discussion with the panellists, highlighting practical strategies and insights.

Key takeaways include:

  • Knowledge Sharing: applying lessons from other countries to inform, regulate and improve preventative and operational measures for Palestine.
  • Forward-planning strategy: NGOs need to prioritise strategic planning and a collective response for MHPSS, and rebuild local infrastructures to better support local organisations and staff in the long term.
  • Global Advocacy and Solidarity: unified efforts are needed to pressure governments and institutions to halt funding to Israel.
  • Culturally tailored, locally-led, group-based interventions: enhancing children’s strengths and resilience with storytelling as a crucial cultural tool for trauma recovery and guided by Palestinians based on their unique experiences.

The session concluded with a call to support and coordinate efforts for the next phase, ensuring a holistic and sustained approach to address the ongoing trauma in Palestine.

 

You can watch a recording of the event here.

 

 

[1] https://childrenandarmedconflict.un.org/2024/06/2023-alarming-levels-of-violence-inflicted-on-children-in-situation-of-armed-conflict/

[2]  https://www.savethechildren.org.uk/news/media-centre/press-releases/over-20000-children-estimated-to-be-lost-in-gaza

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