A baseline survey conducted in World Vision's North Gaza Area Development Programme (ADP) has revealed disturbing findings linked to the physical and psychosocial well being of children – underscoring the need for long-term, sustainable development among some 66,000 people.

Located north of the Gaza Strip, the Beit Lahya community relies on farming, fishing and the service sector for its livelihood – all of which have been severely impacted by Israeli military operations, movement restrictions in the sea and border closures leading to a devastated local economy.

World Vision, together with community leaders conducted the baseline survey involving 41 focus groups and more than 50 indicators to measure the well-being of children and their families and the ability of families and the community to meet children's needs. Survey outcomes also form a benchmark upon which to measure the impact of World Vision's work.

More than 33.1% of families in Beit Lahya have 10 or more family members and live in extreme poverty. They rely on coupons for food and can't afford to adequately clothe and educate their children.

While nearly every household in Beit Lahya has access to water, the quality is so poor that 95% of households have to buy their drinking water. Many children are affected by parasites and diarrhoea, which is adequately treated in only 24% of cases.

Mild stunting (low height for age) affects almost 13% of children, moderate stunting 8.46%, and severe stunting 4.83%. 'My children have forgotten the shape and smell of cooked meat and chicken", said a mother in one focus group.

Perhaps even more alarming is the poor psychosocial well-being of children, with bedwetting and nightmares featuring heavily in focus group findings – both linked with fear and anxiety as a result of the ongoing conflict. "Most children with nightmares experience lack of concentration and attention deficit", shared a teacher in a focus group session.

Children show low levels of love of learning due to violence practiced against them, difficult curricular and deteriorated educational environment. 'In the past, my father used to tell me, if you scored high marks in schools, I will bring you a bicycle. Now he stays at home with no job, he says nothing to encourage me", said one student.

The staggering unemployment rate (65%) and low per capita annual income (US$140) is also putting pressure on families to generate an income any way they can. "If my elder daughter was a boy, I would have dropped her out of school in order to work to increase our livelihood's earning", was the response in one focus group.

While World Vision child sponsorship has been in place for less than a year, the organisation is using donated funds to improve the educational environment for students, by investing in infrastructure, training teachers and developing curriculum. 'A better environment for the child means a healthier environment in the school in the midst of the larger less controllable external environment', said Rania Cory, World Vision Jerusalem-West Bank-Gaza Sponsorship Manager.

The survey also revealed that limited recreational and social opportunities for children is a major issue in this ADP, which is why the sponsorship programme has enabled some 1,500 sponsored children to attend summer camps and participate in birthday parties, chaperoned trips and sporting competitions.

Instilling a greater sense of hope is also a primary aim of World Vision's development work in the area - and a major challenge given the low levels of 'emergence of hope' revealed in the survey, especially among parents.

Lessons on peace and conflict resolution have been conducted with children from years five to eight to help children think about the consequences of conflict in a simple way, says ADP Manager Mohammad El Halaby. And, workshops have been conducted with parents on issues like early marriage and nutrition to help them make informed choices on the ways they raise their children.

Helping farmers and fishermen generate better incomes for their families by rehabilitating greenhouses and restoring boats and nets, as well as offering training on more efficient work practices is just one way that World Vision is helping families provide for their children.

Improving the psychosocial wellbeing of children is a longer-term, delicate process and a challenge World Vision must undertake closely with community leaders and members alongside addressing the underlying causes of fear and poverty.

It is hoped that sponsorship, in tandem with income generating activities and advocacy efforts, will play a part in giving children and their parents hope for a peaceful and fulfilling future.

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Further notes:

The North Gaza ADP baseline survey report can be obtained from the Advocacy/Peacebuilding/Communications Manager, Allyn Dhynes – allyn_dhynes@wvi.org

See also the related photo gallery 'The Fishermen & Farmers of Gaza' - http://meero.worldvision.org/gallery_reportage.php?reportageID=68