STORY: Child survivors of Gaza conflict in dire need of psychological support
SHOOTING TIME: Nov. 8, 2023
DATELINE: Nov. 10, 2023
LENGTH: 00:02:05
LOCATION: GAZA, Palestine
CATEGORY: MILITARY

SHOTLIST: 
1. STANDUP 1 (Arabic): SANAA KAMAL, Xinhua reporter
2. various of entertainment events for displaced children in Gaza
3. SOUNDBITE 1 (Arabic): MOHAMMED AL-AMASI, Volunteer in Gaza
4. various of entertainment events for displaced children in Gaza
5. SOUNDBITE 2 (Arabic): JANA AYYAD, Displaced girl in Gaza
6. various of entertainment events for displaced children in Gaza

STORYLINE:

STANDUP 1 (Arabic): SANAA KAMAL, Xinhua reporter
"As the Israeli army's ground and air attacks continue in the Gaza Strip, tens of thousands of Palestinians have been displaced, fleeing to the hundreds of UNRWA shelter centers. 
We are standing in one of the UNRWA schools where thousands of Palestinians have been displaced. Most of the displaced here are children. Mothers here say that their children's health and psychological status changed completely after Oct. 7.
Children here complain of fear, panic, and horror. Other children show violent behavior because they are afraid if they hear the slightest sound near them."

To help ease the mental stress of child war survivors in the conflict-ravaged enclave, Mohammed al-Amasi, a Gaza-based young Palestinian, took the initiative with five colleagues to launch an education-through-fun program.

Every day, the volunteer group visits schools-turned-refugee centers, one after another across Gaza.

Drawing, story-telling, singing, playing with clowns, and telling stories are among the activities aimed at helping the children cope with fear and anxiety during a time of turmoil and loss.

SOUNDBITE 1 (Arabic): MOHAMMED AL-AMASI, Volunteer in Gaza
"Such activities can help children release their pressure during the war by involving them in sports, singing, storytelling, dancing and other activities. We can choose the activities that would be suitable for each school."

SOUNDBITE 2 (Arabic): JANA AYYAD, Displaced girl in Gaza
"I am spending good times with the youth groups who let us release our pressure and be happy."

A bloody conflict between Hamas and Israel since Oct. 7 has plunged more than 2.3 million people in Gaza into a humanitarian crisis, with very limited access to food and water, no fuel for electricity, and the total collapse of the health system.

Xinhua News Agency correspondents reporting from Gaza, Palestine.
(XHTV)