GAZA, February 10, 2009 (WAFA)- Three weeks of fighting in Gaza has had a strong economic, social and psychological toll on the lives of Palestinians living there, according to the findings of a survey commissioned by the United Nations Development Program (UNDP).

The phone survey, conducted during the last week of January, shows that unemployment in Gaza, rose from 36% to 43% since the Israeli aggression on Gaza last December. Full-time employment, already at a record of 50%, has declined further to 45%.

As this is a landline phone survey, collapsed houses could not be reached, and the likelihood of reaching severely damaged homes was also lower. Yet, 45% of those polled said that their homes were partially damaged from bullets, artillery shells or had shattered windows. In addition, 38 % of those surveyed said they had been displaced from their homes, citing too much danger in their neighborhood as the main reason.

Half of respondents identified emotional and psychological aid as the main need for children, citing signs of stress such as bedwetting, nightmares, aggressive behavior and anxiety. Getting children back to school on a regular basis and providing them safe opportunities to play were key concerns reported by parents and guardians as well.

The survey also shows that all basic social services and public utilities, such as running water, solid waste removal, electricity, sanitation, hospitals/clinics and roads were hit hard during the conflict.

UNDP commissioned the survey in order to understand the recovery priorities of the Palestinian people living in Gaza. The survey’s data will feed into a comprehensive damage and recovery needs assessment currently being conducted by the UN, in cooperation with national and international partners.