Third of displaced 'Kiryat Shmona' teens feel unsafe: Israeli media

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Agencies
26 Jul 2024 22:08

According to a study, one-third of the displaced youths reported feeling unsafe, with 17% reporting a lack of security at school and 11% expressing concerns about their safety at "home."

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A man drives his motorcycle past a damaged building, from previous shelling attacks from Lebanon, in Kiryat Shmona, northern Israel, Wednesday, June 19, 2024 (AP)

Israeli media reported on a growing sense of uncertainty and insecurity among teenagers displaced from the settlement of "Kiryat Shmona" due to the ongoing war with Hezbollah in the northern region.

A new study published by Yedioth Ahronoth reveals important statistics about the mental and emotional state of these youths.

According to the research, one-third of the displaced youths reported feeling unsafe, with 17% reporting a lack of security at school and 11% expressing concerns about their safety at "home."

Despite moving to more secure locations compared to "Kiryat Shmona," where they were initially displaced from, these youths reported continuing to struggle with feelings of instability.

The study, which involved personal interviews and surveys with 218 families and 66 displaced teenagers, was conducted over the past nine months in hotels, rented apartments, and various other locations throughout the occupied territories.

The research notes that the general satisfaction levels among the displaced "Kiryat Shmona" youths with their current lives is significantly lower than that of their peers in a 2019 sample.

Dr. Dafna Gross-Manus from Tel Hai Academic College, who co-conducted the study, noted, "There appears to be a deep impact on the overall sense of security among these teenagers. Even though they are not in Kiryat Shmona, their sense of protection has been compromised due to the disruption of their home environment."

The report also points out that 12% of teenagers feel they have insufficient friends, compared to 74% who reported having enough friends in the general population.

The study further found that the location of displacement significantly affects social integration. Youths living in hotels maintain a more familiar social circle, whereas those in other types of accommodations face greater social challenges.

"Kiryat Shmona" Mayor Avichai Stern revealed that 72% of the settlement’s residents are considering relocating elsewhere in "Israel". He further noted that the northern settlers "will not return even if an agreement is reached with Hezbollah."

Israeli media sources reported that over 70% of the occupied Galilee region has been affected by Hezbollah strikes from Lebanon, leading to half of "Kiryat Shmona's" settlers refusing to return due to ongoing fire.