Why Did I Survive While They Died?

(Why Did I Survive While They Died?)- An Article by Dr. Yasser Abu-Jamei, Director General of GCMHP, Highlights the Psychological Impact of War on Children in Eyes on Gaza

Dr. Yasser Abu-Jamei, Director General of the Gaza Community Mental Health Programme (GCMHP), has published an article entitled “Why Did I Survive While They Died?” in This Week in Palestine. The article explores the profound psychological impact of war on children in the Gaza Strip, highlighting the vital role of mental health and psychosocial interventions in helping children recover, rebuild their lives, and regain the ability to envision a future.

The article presents the human experiences of Palestinian children who have endured bereavement, displacement, injury, and fear amid extremely harsh humanitarian conditions that have undermined their sense of safety, psychological well-being, and ability to learn and engage socially. Among these accounts is the story of a sixth-grade girl who lost her parents and three siblings when her family home was bombed. She survived after remaining trapped beneath the rubble for hours before being rescued.

Dr. Abu-Jamei emphasizes that protecting children and ensuring access to mental health and psychosocial interventions must be a priority throughout all stages of humanitarian response and recovery. Such interventions should extend beyond specialized centres to reach local communities and involve families, caregivers, teachers, and school counsellors, thereby strengthening collective recovery and helping children rebuild their sense of safety and belonging.

This article reflects GCMHP’s ongoing commitment to highlighting the mental health needs of people in the Gaza Strip, raising awareness of the importance of mental health, and advocating for accessible, specialized, and sustainable services that respond to the scale of human suffering and the lasting effects of psychological trauma.

Read the full article:

https://thisweekinpalestine.com/why-did-i-survive-while.../

PDF version:

https://thisweekinpalestine.com/.../2026/10/339-007.pdf