GAZA, June 3, 2009 (WAFA)- Gaza Community Mental Health Program (GCMHP) stressed, Wednesday, that the children of Gaza are victims of all forms of aggression; killings, injuries, imprisonment, loss, and economic & physical siege.

The generations of Palestinian children have accumulated, through years of exposure to long term traumatic experiences, negative psychological and behavioral reactions that pose a significant threat to their psychological well-being, GCMHP said.

In a press release issued, Wednesday, GCMHP said that the anniversary of the International Children's Day and the anniversary of the International Day of Innocent Children “Victims of Aggression”, comes as Palestinian children continue to be subjected to various forms of violence by the Israeli Occupation Forces.

GCMHP specified that the most dangerous practices were the tightening of the blockade on the Gaza Strip and the recent devastating war launched on Gaza over 22 days; which claimed the lives of about 1417 Palestinians, including 313 children and injured about 5303, including 1606 children. The war led to shaking the resiliency of Palestinian children, which may make them vulnerable to many social and psychological problems over the generations to come.

GCMHP recalled on the results of research studies about the relationship between aggression, with its traumatizing impact, and the children's behavior in terms of their negative thinking about political and social peace. GCMHP investigated the deterioration of children’s mental health in a study entitled the “Effect of war on Palestinian children’s mental health in the Gaza Strip”.

The main findings of the study were as follows:

•             66.6% of the children appeared to have some symptoms of anxiety and psychological fears.

•             42.0% of the children expect events similar to those they passed through.

•             36.4% of the children feel disturbance and tension when experiencing events reminding them of the tragic war.

•             98.5% of children did not feel secure during the war due to their sense of powerlessness to protect themselves and the inability of  others to protect them.

•             61.5% of the parents indicated the emergence of unusual behaviors among their children (such as continuous crying, and restlessness).

•             40.6% of parents indicated that their children have problems with their peers.

•             82.1% of the children expressed their conviction that Gaza is an unsafe place.

•             73.5% of the children had fears of being targeted and killed.

•             76.6% of children had fears of occurrence of what happened to them during the war.

Based on this, GCMHP, emphasize the role of the international community to pay special attention to the children, victims of aggression and violence in Palestine, particularly after the Israeli war on Gaza. GCMHP stressed that ignoring such issues is considered a violation of International Conventions of children’s rights and a form of indirect violence against children.

Consequently, GCMHP called upon the international community and human rights organizations to assume their responsibility and pressure Israel as an occupying state to stop its escalating aggression on Palestinians and forcing the rules of international law. It demanded the lifting of the blockade and the re-opening of the crossings and allowing the free movement of goods and medicines, which shortage mainly affect children and patients. It called upon them to ensure the release of 246 children who are still imprisoned in the jails of the occupation.

The international community is required to act in good faith in order to stop all forms of direct violence against children in Palestine and worldwide as well as monitoring and documenting all attacks on them.

We, at GCMHP, appeal the international  specialized bodies to create and develop psychological and social rehabilitation programs for victims of violence to reintegrate them in the community to be valued members in the community and enjoying security in a safe environment. We appeal to them to pay a close consideration to children's issues, especially their right of protection from the negative consequences of violence in order to preserve their integrity and maintain their psychological and physical well being, which are significant for enjoying a better future.

We at GCMHP, stress that, there is no doubt that traumatic experiences and violence against the children of Palestine - as a result of the continued Israeli aggression, killing & bombing, and destruction - will definitely have a negative impact on their responses to the ideas of peace and threaten the future of peaceful coexistence among people and threaten the security and stability in the region.