{"id":202292,"date":"2012-12-21T00:00:00","date_gmt":"2019-03-12T18:20:24","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.un.org\/unispal\/?p=202292"},"modified":"2019-03-12T18:20:24","modified_gmt":"2019-03-12T18:20:24","slug":"auto-insert-202292","status":"publish","type":"document","link":"https:\/\/www.un.org\/unispal\/document\/auto-insert-202292\/","title":{"rendered":"Impact of hostilities on children in Gaza – Key findings (Dec 2012) – UNICEF report"},"content":{"rendered":"
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IMPACT OF HOSTILITIES ON CHILDREN IN GAZA<\/strong><\/p><\/div>\n

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RAPID PSYCHOSOCIAL ASSESSMENT, 2012<\/strong><\/p><\/div>\n

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KEY FINDINGS<\/strong><\/p><\/div>\n

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December 2012<\/strong><\/p><\/div>\n

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EXECUTIVE SUMMARY <\/strong><\/span><\/p><\/div>\n

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The hostilities between Hamas and the Israeli military during the period of 14 to 21 November 2012 were harmful to the well-being of children and women. To better guide the humanitarian response in support of affected children, UNICEF coordinated a rapid psychosocial assessment on the impact of the situation on children. The assessment, carried out four days after declaration of the ceasefire, is a rapid evaluation of the situation of children in the most affected areas in Gaza. It does not represent the overall situation of children in Gaza. <\/p><\/div>\n

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The assessment showed that children living in all five Gaza governorates have been affected. It showed that children in north Gaza and Gaza City governorates were more affected compared to localities in the other governorates. The assessment also showed that there was no difference in the level of violence that girls and boys were exposed to, but the sexes reacted differently. Boys showed more emotional symptoms, such as increased level of fear, and girls displayed more physical symptoms, such as changes in eating patterns and crying. Older children were proportionally more affected than younger ones. <\/p><\/div>\n

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METHODOLOGY <\/strong><\/p><\/div>\n

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A random sample of 545 boys and girls aged from birth to 18 years was selected from 35 localities within the five governorates of Gaza that were the hardest hit (see map). The sample was virtually equally divided between girls (49 per cent) and boys (51 per cent). Interviews were conducted by trained fieldworkers with adolescents age 13 to 17; for children aged 0-12, parents were interviewed. Oral informed consent was obtained. The survey used is presented in the annex. <\/p><\/div>\n

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KEY FINDINGS <\/strong><\/p><\/div>\n

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The findings are divided into two parts. The first part discusses the children’s exposure to  violence, and the second part discusses the impact of the exposure on their well-being. <\/p><\/div>\n

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Exposure to violence <\/strong><\/p><\/div>\n

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One key dimension of children’s exposure to violence is witnessing destruction or damage, such as to the child’s home or neighbours’ homes. The assessment revealed the following: <\/p><\/div>\n

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 <\/span>Children reported a high level of exposure to violence. Of the children surveyed, 83 per cent reported that their homes were damaged or destroyed. Fifty children, or 9 per cent, reported that their houses were destroyed during the conflict, and 85 per cent reported damage to their immediate surroundings. One quarter of the sample, <\/span><\/p><\/div>\n

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135 children, reported significant damage. <\/p><\/div>\n

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 <\/span>Children in Gaza City reported the highest levels of destruction, followed in decreasing order by Khan Younis, north Gaza, Rafah and middle Gaza. <\/span><\/p><\/div>\n

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 <\/span>Injuries were reported by 14 per cent of the children, either from a shell or due to bombing of their house. The highest levels of reported child injuries were in north Gaza, followed by Gaza City, Rafah, middle Gaza and Khan Younis. <\/span><\/p><\/div>\n

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 <\/span>One quarter of the children (26 per cent) witnessed up to three violent events. Almost half (46 per cent) witnessed four to five violent events, and 28 per cent witnessed six  violent events. Older children reported significantly more experience in witnessing violent events, with no difference in exposure between boys and girls. The highest levels of children witnessing violence were found in Gaza City, followed by Khan Younis and north Gaza. <\/span><\/p><\/div>\n

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Impact of exposure to violence <\/strong><\/p><\/div>\n

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In assessing the impact of exposure to violence on children’s well-being, the survey included three dimensions: <\/p><\/div>\n

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1. Eight physical symptoms: sleep disturbances, biting nails, crying more, clinging to parents, sleeping with parents, complaining of aches and pains, change in appetite and appearing stunned and shocked; <\/p><\/div>\n

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2. Seven emotional symptoms: excessive nervousness, feelings of anger, difficulty in concentrating, mental strain (sarhan<\/i>, in Arabic), feeling insecure and feeling guilty, <\/p><\/div>\n

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dazed or stunned; <\/p><\/div>\n

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3. Five dimensions of fear: fear of death, fear of being alone, fear of injury, fear of loud sounds and fear of leaving the house. <\/p><\/div>\n

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