"I wish we could go back home as we were before and live peacefully."

This narrative is by L.H.N., 10 years old, who told his story to Ussama Farina, Psychologist, at Gaza Community Mental Health Program. This event occurred about June, 2004, in the Rafah, Khan Younis area, during a great increase in the numbers of homes demolished, and left hundreds of families homeless.

"The movement of the tanks was very scary at that night. We were afraid.
At 7:30 in the morning suddenly the Israeli bulldozers started destroying our house fence. We were sleeping at that time.
woke up and started shouting. The walls started falling. Big rocks fall down on my leg and it was injured. I was not able to stand on it. My mother carried me while my father was carrying my grandmom, but he fell down because he was in hurry. We were trying to get my brothers and my sister.
My father tried to find a piece of white cloth and rise it to the Israeli tanks and bulldozers just to let us leave our home.
Hardly had we left our destroyed house, and stayed in the UN schools, we still there till now.
After the withdrawal of the Israelis from the camp I went back. Everything was change, I didn't know where our house was, everything was under destruction, my books and school uniform.
Especially we were close to the final exams. Now I am afraid that the Israelis will attack once more.
I always imagine the walls and the ceiling falling down.
I dreamed that I am dead and my aunt who died long time ago visited me and gave me a rose. It was a very strange imagination that I left the tomb and took the rose.
The same happened with my brothers, they even were very nervous we were all in a very bad situation.
We went back to school without uniforms and books; everything was under our destroyed house.
"I wish we could go back home as we were before and live peacefully."

Leaa Hussein Nejem, 10 years old (Rafah Camp)

As told to Ussama Farina, Psychologist, Gaza Community Mental Health Programme