Gaza's Traumatized Children Talk About Their Feelings

By Sameh A. Habeeb

ccun.org, February 12, 2009


GAZA CITY —

Having nowhere to hide even inside UN-run schools, the
latest Israeli target, more than 215 children have been killed so far
in Israel's ongoing military offensive against the sealed off Gaza
Strip.

But for many, that's not the worst part of the nightmare.

Having lost a father, mother, brother, sister, uncle, aunt, friend or
neighbor, about every child in the bombed-out costal enclave has been
traumatized and will keep physical and mental scars for years.

IslamOnline. net has interviewed several children to talk about their
feelings regarding Israeli onslaught.

Huda, 7

I hate this war and I hear that Israel will come to our house soon.

I always get nightmares of rockets hitting my house. I dreamt of my
father being killed by one of the rockets and my mother got her neck
racked.

In the nightmare, I was searching for my brothers who were taken far
away by the Israeli tanks.

I'm unhappy and I want to play again in my house. I hope no bad
things happen.

Abed, 3

I don't like darkness. It's when the sounds of bad things come out.

Ahmed Elwan, 6


We are afraid. I saw many children killed.

Rockets came near my house. My younger sister cried ardently and my
mother also. My dad was in my grandmother' s house.

I don't want to be afraid but I want to be strong man for my mother
and sister.


Nasim Udawn, 14


I'm used to the sound of bombings, but this time it gets louder and
louder.

I live in Al-Shati refugee camp in Gaza where some houses around us
were destroyed. Many people were killed. Our own home was hit by
shrapnel.

The problem is my brother, Nader, who started to suffer from
involuntary urination. He gets up crying when he hears the sound of
missiles.


Zeyda Nima, 12

I am not afraid of the bombings or the rockets, no of course, but my
siblings are.

I don't care for these sounds but my sister was taken to the hospital
because she is not hearing very well now because of the air raids and
bombings.


Yehia, 5

The young boy was too traumatized to speak. His mother, Zinat, said
that since the beginning of the Israeli attacks, he has been
suffering from involuntary urination out of fear of the bombings.

Yehia also suffers from nightmares every night.

Muhammad Jmasi, 6


I get scared from the sound of bombings when it comes near my home.

I go to my Dad and he tries to comfort me. But, when my dad is not
around, my brothers and I become very afraid.

I want to play again with my friends on the street and I want to have
new ball to play soccer.