Survival which is organized day by day in the hell of Gaza – part 249 / December 13 – The importance of psychological support – ???? Info Libertaire

Brigitte Challande, December 15, 2024. Abu Amir transmits the weekly report of their team’s activities:

“Psychological support for displaced women in refugee camps

Psychological support for women in the Gaza Strip is a fundamental pillar to alleviate the burdens they face in the ongoing war and prolonged siege. Displaced women in Gaza face harsh conditions due to the ongoing aggression, which has resulted in the destruction of homes and infrastructure, exacerbating their psychological and social suffering. In such circumstances, psychological support programs become an urgent necessity to help them overcome crises and develop effective strategies to deal with daily challenges.

During the second week of December 2024, four sessions of psychological support workshops were organized in two camps in Deir al-Balah, with the participation of 44 women. The sessions covered topics related to the violence of the occupation and its impact on displaced women, as well as psychological coping strategies to face daily challenges in a safe and comfortable environment for women to share their experiences and their emotions with others.

The painful reality of women in Gaza

The suffering of women in Gaza reflects a painful reality that gets worse every day due to the imposed siege and repeated wars. Many women and their families live in dire conditions in refugee camps, which lack basic necessities. Violence against women increases in such circumstances, whether direct violence during conflict or social and economic violence resulting from hunger, poverty and homelessness.

Testimonies from women participating in psychological support workshops reveal that they are deprived of their most basic rights, such as the right to safe shelter, adequate food and a healthy environment. As winter approaches, these problems worsen significantly, exposing women and children to diseases due to lack of resources and facilities, which intensifies their psychological and physical suffering.

During one of the sessions, the women shared their personal experiences: one participant recounted losing her home during the war and seeking refuge in an overcrowded camp, emphasizing that the violence suffered by the women goes beyond the bombings and includes the difficulties of life in the camps and the lack of security. Another woman spoke of the impact of the sound of explosions on her and her children’s mental states, causing lingering anxiety and fear.

The psychological support facilitator gave practical tips for psychological coping, such as deep breathing techniques and mindfulness exercises, which help reduce stress and improve mental health. In addition, the facilitator highlighted the importance of creating social support networks within the camps in order to strengthen the sense of belonging and alleviate isolation.

The impact of psychological support workshops

The women showed great strength and determination in the face of challenges, taking advantage of the exchange of ideas and advice to improve their daily lives. These initiatives promote collective awareness among women and reduce the feeling of isolation, thus contributing to the creation of a collective force capable of meeting challenges.

The importance of psychological support for women in Gaza goes beyond alleviating psychological burdens; it becomes a means of empowering women and strengthening their resilience. The psychological support workshops initiated by UJFP play an essential role in improving the mental and social well-being of displaced women and in promoting community solidarity, while creating an environment conducive to their stability. Given the difficult conditions faced by residents of Gaza, the continuation of these initiatives is essential to bring positive change in the lives of women and their families. »

Photos and videos HERE.

“Moreover the team has received several urgent calls from camp administrations to provide winter clothing for children. After some research she found children’s clothing consisting of two pieces (pants and a sweater) available from certain suppliers, sizes ranging from 2 to 8 years. The teams plan to purchase 300 sets in total. 150 sets will be distributed to the farmers camp, while the remaining 150 sets will be distributed among three other camps, with 50 sets allocated to each camp. »

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Another massacre in northern Gaza. On the evening of December 13, Marsel gives us information about a decimated family:

“22 people were killed in a massacre committed by the Israeli occupation army at dawn today, after targeting a house belonging to the Abu Al-Tarabish family opposite Kamal Adwan Hospital, in the northern Gaza. Among the martyrs the family name is the same for all Abu Al-Tarabish. Look at the names, they are one family, it’s genocide.

Civil defense: The bodies of martyrs litter the streets of the Gaza Strip, which portends a health catastrophe. »

Find all the testimonies of Abu Amir and Marsel:

*Abu Amir Mutasem Eleïwa has been coordinator of Peasant Projects since 2016 in the south of the Gaza Strip and correspondent for the French Jewish Union for Peace.

*Marcel Alledawi is responsible for the Ibn Sina Center in the north of the Gaza Strip, a center dedicated to the educational and psychological monitoring of children.

Both are supported by the UJFP in France.

228th part: November 21. 229th part: November 22. 230th part: November 23. 231st part: November 24. 232nd part: November 25. 233rd part: November 27. 234th part: November 28. 235th part: November 29. 236th part: November 30. 237th part: December 1. 238th part: December 2. 239th part: December 3. 240th part: December 4. 241st part: December 4-1. 242nd part: December 5. 243rd part: December 6. 244th part: December 7. 245th part: December 8. 246th part: December 10. 247th part: December 11. 248th part: December 12.

One year of Testimonies from Gaza from 11/20/2023 to 11/20/2024, from the 1st to the 227th part.
To participate in the “Emergency War in Gaza” collection: HelloAsso.com

The article Testimonies from Gazans: Day-to-day survival in the hell of Gaza – part 249 / December 13 – The importance of psychological support appeared first on International Solidarity Movement – ​​ISM-France.