UNRWA says more than half of Gaza children need psychological support
November 4, 2021, 5:22 am

UNRWA says more than half of Gaza children need psychological support

Palestine-Gaza strip-Poor girl/Pixabay

The Xinhua reported, the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) on Wednesday that more than half of the children in the Gaza Strip need psychological support.

Thomas White, director of UNRWA operations in Gaza, made the remarks during a meeting with local journalists at his office in Gaza, noting that "this was due to the repercussions of the last round of tension in the enclave in May."

He explained that 9,090 children have recently had behavioral problems and suffered trauma and they have received preliminary psychological support.

The senior UN official said that the recent round of tension had undermined the economic progress that was expected this year in Gaza, estimated at 0.3 percent.

Palestine-Gaza-Palestinian children/Pixabay

White said: "Living conditions in the Gaza Strip are difficult, especially in light of the high rates of unemployment and poverty. The person who receives a monthly salary provides for two to three extended families."

More than 2 million people in the Gaza Strip endure poor economic conditions, due to the blockade that had been imposed by Israel since 2007.

White said the UN agency was continuing its efforts to negotiate with donors to begin rebuilding completely-destroyed Palestinian refugee homes, adding that Germany has agreed to do so.

On May 10, Israel launched an 11-day military offensive on the Gaza Strip, leaving more than 250 Palestinians and 13 Israelis killed and causing massive destruction of homes and infrastructure.

Source: xinhua

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Upon arriving to participate in the summit of the European Political Community, which includes around forty heads of state in Budapest, he said, "I look forward to sitting with the elected U.S. president and seeing how we will collectively ensure we meet challenges, including the threats from Russia and North Korea." He also noted that the strengthening of ties between Russia and North Korea poses a threat to the United States as well, according to reports from Agence France-Presse.

Before Trump's victory, Rutte expressed confidence that a united Washington would remain part of the defensive alliance, even if Trump became the 47th president of the United States. In an interview with German public broadcaster ZDF last Monday night, he stated that both Republicans and Democrats understand that NATO serves not only the security of Europe but also that of America. He added that both candidates are aware that the security of the United States is closely tied to NATO.

On Wednesday, NATO congratulated Trump on his victory but did not address the Ukrainian issue.

It is noteworthy that the relationship between the elected U.S. president and the defense alliance was not the best during his first term in the White House. Trump criticized NATO member states multiple times and even hinted at withdrawing from the alliance unless they increased their financial contributions.

Additionally, the issue of the Russian-Ukrainian war is one of the matters that complicate relations between the two sides, especially since Trump has repeatedly stated that he can end this ongoing conflict, which began in 2022, quickly. He implied that he had a peace plan between Kyiv and Moscow, while his vice president, JD Vance, revealed aspects of that plan, which stipulated Ukraine's commitment not to join NATO, thereby sending reassuring signals to the Russians.

Furthermore, many NATO member states in Europe fear that Trump might halt military aid to Ukraine after he previously criticized the U.S. for pouring funds into supporting Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.