Gaza Children Felt a Lack of Support from Loved Ones in 2022

Save the Children surveyed the conditions and perceptions of children in Gaza and Palestine regarding the support they received from those closest to them in 2022.

This support survey was conducted because many children live in difficult, stressful, and prolonged situations. Therefore, Save the Children considers the psychosocial well-being of children a priority.

"It is important for them to have someone they can rely on for support. The presence of a safe and supportive figure in their lives serves as a primary protector of the psychosocial well-being and mental health of children and adolescents," wrote the research team in their report.

The results showed that 82% of all respondents felt their parents could care for them. This figure is a decrease from the 2018 survey, which showed 91%.

Furthermore, only 44% of children felt they had someone they could rely on and ask for support. In 2018, this proportion reached 60%.

Then, 65% felt supported by their siblings. This figure is also down from the 2018 survey, which reached 77%.

Finally, only 56% of child respondents felt supported by their peers. This achievement is also down from the previous 66%.

Save the Children considers these findings quite worrying. The research team also mentioned that the feeling of lack of support in children is most likely related to the mental health and psychosocial well-being of their caregivers or parents.

"When we asked the caregivers how they felt, most said they felt unhappy (96%), under constant pressure (98%)," wrote the research team.

Quantitative research was conducted from March to April 2022. These quantitative findings were reinforced by qualitative research.

A total of 560 child or psychosocial well-being questionnaires were completed by children, adolescents, and caregivers in five areas: North Gaza, Gaza City, Central Gaza, Khan Yunis, and Rafah. The sample was randomly selected among children and their caregivers living in urban, rural, refugee, and restricted access areas.

The quantitative survey was conducted on 400 children aged 12-17 years, with a composition of 48% female and 52% male. The survey also targeted 160 parents and caregivers, consisting of 50% female and 50% male.

Meanwhile, the 2018 quantitative research was conducted on 300 children in Gaza.

For the 2022 qualitative research, 12 interviews were conducted with eight children and four caregivers. There were also 10 focus group discussions (FGDs) conducted with 80 children aged 12 to 17, 40% of whom were female.

Interviews were conducted with ten key informants, including specialists in child and adolescent mental health and psychosocial support (CAMHS), as well as relevant civil society and international organizations working in the field.

(Also read: Many Gaza Children Lived in Depression and Fear in 2022)