“They have many symptoms,” says Ibrahim, describing how trauma is manifesting daily in children in Gaza. “Being attached to their parents to the point that they don’t want to leave the place they are in – such as a tent. Severe anxiety and fear. Going to the toilet a lot – involuntary urination, basically.
“They don’t want to participate in activities. They can’t sleep, they’re having trouble eating. Sometimes it can escalate to the point where a child becomes catatonic. They can’t speak. They can’t connect to family members because of severe trauma. Some have become very angry, defensive, aggressive. Some also have speech impediments – they can’t talk; they stutter.”
