Psychological support for the children of Burj Al-Shamali camp: a humanitarian initiative to confront the repercussions of the war
In Burj Al-Shamali camp in the city of Tyre, southern Lebanon, the “Dyarna” association launched a humanitarian initiative aimed at providing psychological support to children, in light of the continuing “Israeli” aggression against southern Lebanon and the accompanying sounds of aircraft, bombing, and the atmosphere of war that terrify children and affect their balance. Psychological.
A team of volunteers from the association organizes a series of recreational activities for children, through which it seeks to provide a safe environment and a space for play and joy away from the pressures caused by the “Israeli” aggression on children, and the resulting absence of safe play spaces.
Ahmed Dahwish, director of the Diyaruna Association, said in an interview with the Palestinian Refugee Portal: “The association has taken upon itself the responsibility of supporting children in the camp and alleviating the effects of war on them, away from the atmosphere of war and the sounds of airplanes that cause terror and fear to children.”
He added: “Every day, we identify different areas in the camp, and we meet with the children to provide them with various recreational activities and games, with the aim of discharging their negative energies and bringing happiness to their hearts.”
Dahwish also indicated that the association is currently working on preparing a group of plays and puppet shows for children, which will soon be ready for display, to be part of a series of ongoing activities that contribute to improving the psychological state of children and alleviating the effects of aggression on them.
For her part, Batoul, one of the volunteers in the association, spoke about the efforts of her and her colleagues in providing psychological support to children, saying: “We strive to reduce the burdens of psychological warfare on children through the recreational activities that we provide to them daily.”
She added: “We try to create moments of joy for them that help them overcome the feelings of fear and anxiety that haunt them.”
The importance of psychological support for children in times of war
With the continuation of the “Israeli” aggression against Lebanon in general, and the absence of recreational facilities in the camp, the urgent need arises for the presence of teams specialized in psychological and recreational support for children.
The constant sounds of planes and the continuous bombing of southern villages and towns greatly affect the psychology of children, making such initiatives an urgent necessity to alleviate their fears and restore some of their normal life under exceptional circumstances.
Through this initiative, Diyaruna Association emphasizes the importance of the role of psychological support for children and providing spaces that give them an opportunity to play and smile, despite the difficult conditions that the camp residents are experiencing.
It is noteworthy that Burj Al-Shamali camp includes about 22,000 Palestinian refugees, hundreds of families of whom were displaced outside the camp and shelter centers during the current escalation, in light of difficult living conditions and the inability to secure alternative home rentals in safe areas, while those who remain inside suffer from the absence of support. UNRWA after closing its centers in the camp.
https://refugeesps.net/p/29119
