Region | Palestinian Territories

Kids' plight: Wet beds, recurring nightmares

Medical officials in Gaza said that children are the worst affected since the Israeli assault began, amid warnings that the bombardment and the continuing blockade could spur a new generation to embrace violence.

  • By Vita Bekker, Financial Times
  • Published: 23:38 January 7, 2009
  • Gulf News

Medical officials in Gaza said that children are the worst affected since the Israeli assault began, amid warnings that the bombardment and the continuing blockade could spur a new generation to embrace violence.

Gaza's children, who make up more than half of the 1.5 million inhabitants in the impoverished territory, were shell-shocked, relief workers warned.

"They are terrified. The bombing is around the clock and there is no rest at all," said Sajy Al Mughanni, a co-ordinator for the United Nations Children's Fund.

"This could [have an] impact on the children for months or years afterwards."

Most children now spend their time indoors at home, as schools have become makeshift shelters for Palestinians displaced by the assault.

Parents say children have lost their appetites, cling to them, wet beds and have recurring nightmares.

They also suffer from the cold, especially at night, as most windows are kept open to avoid them shattering during bombardments.


Your comments


Every eye seeks US president-elect Obama's words. But what have the Arab leader's done for the Gaza massacre? At first they should speak out instead of sending some medicine and food. Arabs are not united, otherwise Israel would not dare to touch Palestine.
Naushad
Dubai,UAE
Posted: January 08, 2009, 10:19

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