“We are seeing patients who haven't seen a doctor for weeks or months. The most common conditions are respiratory infections and chronic illness. Medication is expensive, but without health insurance, patients have no way to pay for it,” says Juan Pablo Nahuel Sanchez.
In parallel, mental health services including psychological first aid, counselling and psychotherapy continue to be offered to those affected by the situation. Our psychologists are seeing a clear deterioration in people’s mental health.
“What is striking here is that we're not only treating post-traumatic stress disorders, but ongoing trauma. Individuals are experiencing ongoing exposure to traumatic events daily, making it difficult to find relief,” says an MSF psychologist.
The deterioration of people's mental health does not only impact those who are able to grasp the scope and impact of the violence caused by the occupation. Even infants and toddlers are showing symptoms of anxiety, such as bedwetting, nightmares, and isolation.
“It breaks my heart to raise children in this environment,” says Aliyah. “You know what my daughter told me the other day? ‘Mum, I am so scared’ – and she is only two years old”.
*Names of the people interviewed have been changed and other facts that might help identify them have been removed for safety measures.
MSF has been present in the West Bank since 1988, with current activities in Hebron, Nablus, and Jenin. Our teams run mental health programmes with outreach activities, provide medical services and basic healthcare via mobile clinics, as well as capacity-building activities, offering training to health facilities and hospitals for mass-casualty plans, emergency response and patient triage.
In addition to the expansion of medical activities since 7 October, our team increased health promotion activities in the community, and the distribution of relief items, hygiene kits and food parcels to internally displaced Gazans and West Bank residents affected by violence and forcible displacement.