Ukraine’s First Lady Olena Zelenska met with representatives of the Israel Trauma Coalition and Israel Trauma and Resiliency Center- NATAL, as well as with representatives of the southern Israeli city of Sderot, to learn more about their experience with trauma amid the constant rocket fire from the Gaza Strip.
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"Israel serves as a role model for us. Unfortunately, you have extensive experience in this field, and yet your country continues to prosper and survive, even under relentless attacks," Zelenska said to the representatives during the Monday meeting.
"Yes, the Ukrainians are resilient, but resilience comes at a high emotional cost. Research shows that most Ukrainians are currently suffering from anxiety and post-traumatic stress. It ranges from children who witnessed harm to their parents, to adults whose entire families were wiped out by missiles."
During the meeting, Zelenska and the First Lady of Israel, Michal Herzog, heard the story of Noa Shaniar, a 31-year-old English teacher from Sderot and a mother of three. "I was born and raised in Sderot, and I remember very well the first rocket attack on our city," Shaniar shared. "I was only 10 years old at the time, and I used to play with my friends in the neighborhood. During that period, we didn't have shelters or protected spaces for refuge."
Shaniar also shared her recent experience during the rocket attack, a week before the Shield and Arrow operation. "I received a warning from the Home Front Command about a rocket attack, and suddenly the sirens went off, and in a moment, I found myself lying on the street, protecting my children. One of the missiles fell very close to us," she said. "I was taken to a resilience center for a few hours, just to recover from the trauma I experienced, and that's just one example. I want to express my gratitude for the amazing center we have in the city and the people who work there, always available for us."
The resident of Sderot concluded, saying: "You wake up in the morning and don't know how the day will end. Raising children in such an environment is a daily challenge. Additionally, as a teacher, you must be an anchor for your students, especially after military operations."
The meeting also highlighted the humanitarian activity in the field of mental health by participating organizations, which includes treating children traumatized in Ukraine. The discussion focused on ways to strengthen resilience and address trauma in Ukrainian youth and children, providing additional tools to local professionals based on the extensive knowledge and experience of third-sector organizations in Israel.
ZELENSKA IN ISRAEL
"With your knowledge, you can train our experts who will be able to take this back to Ukraine," Zelenska noted. "The knowledge you have provided us will not only assist medical professionals and first responders but will also be disseminated to all individuals who come into contact with the public. We aspire to make psychological assistance widely accessible, just like medical aid."