NATAL, Israel Trauma Center for Victims of Terror and War – was invited by the UN to testify today, via video-conference, on its activities during Operation Cast Lead.  Present at the hearing were Judith Yovel Recanati – NATAL’s Chairperson, Orly Gal – NATAL’s Executive Director and Dr Rony Berger – A clinical psychologist and Head of the Community Outreach Unit at NATAL.
 
The Community Outreach Unit in NATAL has been treating working in Southern Israel for over 8 years to treat children and adults living under continued existential threat.  NATAL has also conducted extensive research of Sderot’s residents, revealing important lessons about PTSD symptoms among the Sderot population – especially in children.
 
NATAL’s representatives gave a summary of the situation in the South to the UN committee and answered questions on the subject of the heavy emotional toll the citizens there are paying