Life in the Gaza Strip 6 weeks after Israel’s attack (2009)

Blockade and armed assaults taking its toll: Extensive physical destruction, signs of a highly distressed population.

The Gaza Strip is characterized by widespread physical damages, but six weeks after Israel’s attack ended, renovation of houses in need of repair had barely started due to dire economic circumstances and the lack of building materials.

Pessimism toward the future is rampant. Three in ten families said they would be able to secure basic needs in the coming months, and only one in ten anticipated an improved household economy.

The population displayed symptoms suggesting considerable post-war trauma. For example, 13 % of the population suffered from sleeping problems the week preceding the interview and for a majority (10 % of all individuals) the onset of the problem was during or after the war. Further, 15 % of children aged 5-14 had acquired a bed-wetting problem with the Israeli assault, which also had triggered concentration difficulties for 21 % of children at the same age.

These and other statistics stem from a multi-topic household sample survey that was implemented to collect data to document the living conditions in the Gaza Strip in the wake of Israel’s assault on 27 December and the ensuing armed conflict. It was thought that a fairly rapid assessment would benefit everyone concerned with post-war reconstruction and aid of various sorts.

Through interviews with more than 2,000 households, the survey covered issues such as displacement during the war and damages caused by it, people’s economic situation, needs and concerns, their health and psycho-social status. The fieldwork was implemented from 3 to 12 March 2009, and face-to-face interviews were carried out at 132 fieldwork locations spanning the entire Gaza Strip.

The survey was funded by the Norwegian Government with additional contribution from the UNFPA.

Researchers

Åge A. Tiltnes. ati@fafo.no
+47 22 088 629 + 47 974 33 960

Akram Atallah akram@fafo.ps
+972 59 96 20 12 +972 54 53 48 283

Hani Eldada hani@fafo.ps
+972 59 97 81 030

Fafo-paper

Living conditions in the Gaza Strip during and after Israel’s military campaign in the winter of 2008/2009

Summary

English

Arabic

Tabulation reports

1. Housing
2. Assistance and economy
3. Employment
4. Food security
5. Health
6. Mental health

Questionnaires

English * Arabic

Sampling

Gaza assessment sampling