A Senior Swedish Delegation Visits Gaza Community Mental Health Programme

The delegation was welcomed by Dr. Eyad El-Sarraj, President of Gaza Community Mental Health Programme, and Dr. Ahmad Abu Tawahina, Director General of the Programme where they gave elaborated analysis of the tragic and disastrous situation that the Palestinian people suffered from over the past few years. Further, they talked about psycho-social consequences of the Israeli occupation practices and siege imposed on the Palestinian civilians, and the problems resulted from internal clashes. Dr. Sarraj gave an overview of the Israeli violations of Palestinians rights and the future perspective of the political, economic, psychosocial, and security conditions in the region.

Furthermore, Dr. Abu Tawahina addressed the Swedish mission with the current and future strategic plans of GCMHP, indicating that certain modifications in the Programme's activities took place in response to changes on the grounds in the Palestinian community. Dr. Abu Tawahina highlighted the Programme's preventive activities through Crisis intervention plan in correspondence with the arising population needs. In addition, Dr. Abu Tawahina gave elaborated analysis of the Programme's role concerning developing the capacities of Palestinian civil society organization and cadres to meet the increasing demands of psychosocial services due to the escalating poverty, the Israeli imposed siege, and internal clashes. Based on the clinical experience, Dr. Abu Tawahina presented the delegation with some facts regarding the mental health symptoms that Palestinian children are suffering from, stressing on the significant increase of violence and mental problems among children. Moreover, Dr. Abu Tawahina presented some obstacles that face the Programme due to the Israeli siege and sanctions against Palestinian people, including preventing access of necessary psychotropic medicines to the Gaza Strip.

Furthermore, Dr. Sarraj reviewed the latest Developments in the Occupied Palestinian Territories and daily challenges that face the Palestinian populations as a result of Israeli procedures and obstacles against Palestinians. Dr. Sarraj, then, talked about his role and activities within the International Campaign to Break the Siege on Gaza, comprised of several Palestinian figures and human rights activists.

Furthermore, Dr. Sarraj reviewed the results of some research studies that GCMHP undertaken concerning the impacts of Israeli violence on the psychosocial aspects of Palestinian civilians, asserting on the role of GCMHP to decrease the Palestinians' suffering. He added that the Palestinian population suffers from frustration, despair, panic and anxiety due to the deterioration of economic, political and security situation in the Occupied Palestinian Territories. Also, he talked about the Israeli siege and its negative impacts on all aspects of Palestinian lives. Dr. Sarraj warned against the deterioration of political and security conditions in the Palestinian arena that will lead to more aggravation of the Palestinian suffering and continuity of violence cycle and conflict in the whole region.

Dr. Saraj stressed that the success of the peace process is connected with return of confidence among the struggling sides and the commitment of the agreements of ending the suffering of Palestinian population through removing checkpoints and stopping the policies of closures, invasions, and assassinations.

In addition, Both Dr. Sarraj and Dr. Abu Tawahina presented an elaborated analysis of the nature of GCMHP and its branches work, activities and services offered to the Palestinian community since the establishment. The Programme aims at reduction of Palestinian sufferings under the severe siege imposed on Gaza Strip. They also explained the joint activities that GCMHP carries out with Israeli human rights and health organizations for the reduction of Palestinian sufferings.

Dr. Sarraj and Dr. Abu Tawahina addressed the current and future increasing needs of the Palestinian populations at all levels in order to decrease the critical psychosocial impacts of poverty and unemployment which are widely spread in the Occupied Palestinian Territories.

At the end of the meeting, Both Dr. Sarraj and Dr. Abu Tawahina appreciated the Swedish delegation for their visit and aides offered by the Swedish government for Palestinian people. They also requested from the delegation to urge the European governments to continue supporting Palestinians and to work on bringing perspectives of all struggling sides closer to avoid more aggravation of the crises on the Palestinian people, as well as to work on ending the Palestinians' sufferings and breaking the siege imposed on the Palestinian people.