The Israel attacks on Gaza this month killed 33 people including 7 children. MECA and our partners are working hard to meet the most urgent needs including providing psychological support for the children who have lived through days of fear, have lost friends, neighbors or relatives, and have lost their homes. The following is one story shared with us by our partner in Gaza, the Center for Training & Crisis Management.
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Ruqaya is a 12-year-old little girl who lives with her family in the Zeitoun neighborhood in the Gaza Strip, which means she’s lived through at least 5 Israeli attacks on the Gaza Strip. During this last aggression on Gaza, Ruqaya and her family were among the lucky ones who physically survived, but the destruction of their home with has scarred them for life.

Ruqaya and members of her family received psychosocial support through MECA’s partner in Gaza. In one of the sessions, her mother shared how their family home was turned to rubble:

“I heard yelling, loud yelling, in our area, and then everyone was screaming to leave our home immediately because of the shelling. I gathered all of my children and ran out to the street to protect ourselves. Then when the shelling stopped and things calmed down, we started going back to check on our home. And that’s when I the shock hit me. I started yelling hysterically because of what I saw: Our home was completely destroyed. The home that was my family’s refuge was destroyed. I couldn’t stop screaming and then fainted.”

Then Ruqaya shared her feelings and thoughts:

“When our neighbors were yelling and telling us to leave our home before the shelling, we left our home without having time to take anything with us. I didn’t even have time to wear my shoes. In the beginning I thought they were going to bomb our neighbor’s home or something, so when I came back and it was our home, I was surprised! It wasn’t just my home that I saw that was completely destroyed, but my dreams too.”

Then she added, “It’s true I no longer have my toys or the new clothes I bought for Eid or my school books and bags, but my main concern is my parents. I am really worried I am going to lose them too. It’s too much.”

We have seen the impact of the huge trauma suffered by Ruqaya and her family. Ruqaya especially is suffering from anxiety, fear and stress, in addition to symptoms of depression and sleep disorder, she’s also dealing with illogical ideas and a pessimistic look at life. We, here at the center, won’t be able to to get Ruqaya and her family their home back, but we did provide psychosocial support services, a new school bag and uniform, in addition to buying her new clothes in place of those that were ruined.

Ruqaya’s story is unique but it’s also the story of thousands of Palestinian children living under the Israeli occupation and siege in Gaza who experience many different kinds of trauma and loss.