“In Gaza today, building, and rebuilding, is needed for everything. Not just houses.”

Palestinian girls look out from the balcony of their damaged house in Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip (March 23, 2009). REUTERS/Ibraheem Abu Mustafa

Written by Jawad Harb

Published on 25th March 2009

Source: Reuters AlertNet

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Jaward Harb talks about the need to give response to the psychological trauma that Gazans, especially children, are experiencing as a result of the massacre.

Before the war, most action plans of the women’s groups we work with weren’t focused on psychosocial support; most were talking about income-generating projects for women such as rabbit-raising, supporting female farmers, sewing. But after the war, the priorities changed. People need an immediate response to the psychological trauma.

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But they don’t talk much, still. I try to sit with them when I have time, but they are becoming silent people. They are traumatized. They don’t know what to say. I try to take them outside, but we can’t leave Gaza; they are surrounded by it, every day. We go walking in the city, or go out for lunch, and they can talk and smile, but then they see the destruction. We can’t escape it.