Read the following by Dr. Alice Rothchild on
her Jewish -American led medical delegation to to Gaza in 2005:
"We witnessed the devastating consequences for the civilian population of years of Israeli military operations. The checkpoints, closures and the severe restriction on movement and economic activity have contributed to rising unemployment, poverty accompanied by unusually high rates of infant mortal-ity, acute and chronic malnutrition and inadequate outpatient and hospital care.
At the Gaza Community Mental Health Program, Dr. Eyad el Sarraj spoke of an entire population suffering from the symptoms of post traumatic stress disorder, anxiety and depression, a consequence of high unemployment, extreme poverty and massive exposure to violence.
A recent study by the program of 10 to 19-year olds in Gaza found that two thirds have seen a friend or neighbor killed or wounded, more than one third have been tear-gassed and 82 percent suffer from moderate to severe PTSD. |
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