A recent study has shed light on the dire consequences of prolonged electricity shortages on the mental health of residents in the Gaza Strip. This comprehensive research, conducted by an international team led by the University of Birmingham, reveals a concerning rise in anxiety and depression levels among individuals enduring a constant lack of electricity.
Access to electricity is a fundamental component of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 7, which focuses on “Affordable and Clean Energy.” However, the Gaza Strip, grappling with a crippling blockade, continues to grapple with severe electricity shortages. In 2021, residents endured an average of 11 hours without power each day.
After surveying 350 families living in this embattled region, where 81% experienced intermittent electricity supply, the researchers published their findings in the International Journal of Social Psychiatry. The stark results indicate that 93% of participants suffered from moderate to severe anxiety, a stark contrast to the 6% reported within the general population of Palestine. Furthermore, 44% of respondents experienced moderate to severe depression, compared to just 5.6% in the broader population.
Co-author Raya AL-Dadah, representing the University of Birmingham, emphasized the gravity of the findings, stating, “We found that electricity issues, particularly when compounded with other stressors inherent to life in Gaza, contribute significantly to severe mental health concerns. Urgent attention must be directed toward developing sustainable, reliable, and affordable energy solutions for both short-term and long-term health and community development.”
The research team underscores the broader implications of energy access and associated poverty on health in Low- and Middle-Income Countries (LMICs). Intermittent access to electricity negatively impacts social and community networks, hindering educational opportunities and access to essential healthcare services. Furthermore, reliable, non-polluting, and affordable energy is essential for employment, economic development, and poverty alleviation.
Home to nearly two million people, including 1.4 million refugees, the blockaded Gaza Strip has long grappled with severe electricity shortages, meeting only 38% of its electricity needs. This inadequate power supply has persisted for decades, leading the UN Office for Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs to warn of an imminent humanitarian disaster with dire implications for health, water, and sanitation.
Over half of Gaza’s population faces the harsh reality of inadequate electricity supply, clean water, and cooking gas, negatively affecting their overall well-being. The electricity shortage also hampers education, especially during the winter months, with 83.5% of students reporting that their studies are compromised due to power outages and gas shortages.
