High Profile U.S. Delegation Visits Gaza Community Mental Health Programme

19th February, 2009

Gaza Community Mental Health Programme (GCMHP) received today a high profile U.S. delegation including two Congress members, Mr. Brian Baird, and Mr. Keith Ellison and Mr. Nick Balarino, the Senior Policy Advisor. The delegation met with Dr. Ahmad Abu Tawahina, the Director General, Mr. Husam El-Nounou, Public Relations Director and Mr. Hassan Ziada, Director of Gaza Community Center.

Dr. Abu Tawahina welcomed the delegation and acquainted them with the psychological impacts of the Israeli war on the Palestinian population in Gaza, especially children. Dr. Abu Tawahina explained that this war has short and long-term consequences on the mental well being and the ways of thinking for new generations. Dr. Abu Tawahina emphasized that the war caused catastrophic consequences at the level of feeling of insecurity and powerlessness among the Palestinians. This will lead to feelings of frustration and anger and establish a base for new era of hatred, violence and desire for revenge. Dr. Abu Tawahina explained that making change in the political and economical environment will definitely lead to big improvement in the mental wellbeing of Palestinian and all people in the region.

In addition, Dr. Abu Tawahina talked about GCMHP¹s activities to reduce the ramifications of war on people, especially children. He also talked about GCMHP's different activities in the fields of training and supervision for the staffs working in the field, as well as advocacy and research. Dr. Abu Tawahina quoted some results of a recent research done by GCMHP.

Dr. Abu Tawahina emphasized the important role of the new US administration to push for a genuine peace process based on justice and international law which will make significant change in the general environment and more security and peace for all.

The congress members expressed sadness for the destruction caused by the war in Gaza and emphasized the high commitment of the new US Administration toward peace in the region and its determination to go forward in this process.

At the end of the meeting, Dr. Abu Tawahina thanked the delegation for this important visit in this significant time, calling for exerting more efforts to achieve justice and peace in the region.

Gaza Community Mental Health Programme