The Taub Center has published a special paper (in Hebrew only) that outlines the steps the government of Israel should take in order to provide for the needs of the evacuees from the Western Negev and the northern settlements. The Taub Center has presented the survey and policy options to the Tkuma movement and stands ready to answer any further requests for clarification or expanding on ideas.
A paper written by Romy Volokh surveys the ways in which other countries have dealt with evacuees forced to leave their homes in the face of imminent danger, and suggests ways to take advantage of their experience in dealing with the situation in Israel.
Prof. John Gal, Principal Researcher and Chair of the Taub Center Welfare Policy Program, and also of Hebrew University of Jerusalem, outlines here the most critical points with regard to the civilian evacuation and temporary housing, employment solutions, economic assistance, and support provided to these communities and the absorbing communities based on his review of the data and information accumulated since the beginning of the War.
Concern about risk situations such as depression and violence in the family
As a result of the prolonged absence from their homes, temporary living conditions that are often characterized by crowding and a lack of privacy, and, in many cases, the absence of educational and employment frameworks, risk situations such as depression, anxiety, loneliness, and domestic violence are liable to develop among evacuees. Prof. Gal emphasizes that with time the chance of this happening increases, even among people with no prior history of these conditions. According to him, the time to deal with these difficult and complex situations that have arisen is now, to help prevent high risk outcomes in the future. To this end, the State should allocate the necessary resources to provide material and financial solutions, as well as psychosocial assistance from social workers and other professionals. In that context, Prof. Gal adds that the lessons learned from those who were housed in “COVID hotels” should be applied (even though the stay in those hotels was much shorter than in the current situation).
Taking advantage of opportunities for development rather than making hasty short-term decisions
The Taub Center document emphasizes the importance of a development-oriented policy that is not simply aimed at finding immediate solutions to housing the evacuees, but rather views the situation created as an opportunity to develop personal and community resilience. This includes the improvement of infrastructure and protection in their settlements, with the goal of ensuring the security of the residents and allowing them to return without concern for their safety when the time comes.
The involvement of the evacuees and the absorbing communities in the decision-making process
Prof. Gal stresses that the involvement of the evacuees and the absorbing communities in the decision making process that affects them and the adoption of wise policies by government authorities in this complex situation can also help mitigate the evacuees’ feelings of anger toward the State. Their involvement in decision making will, to some extent, restore their control over their lives and could help limit the adverse psychological and social effects of being uprooted, as well as prevent emigration.
Flexible and well-designed solutions
Disasters like this one, by their very nature, have multiple and diverse effects, and accordingly the needs of the uprooted and the ways of meeting them are not uniform. The Taub Center paper emphasizes that a one-size-fits-all policy on the part of the State is not likely to be effective. It may well increase the feeling of coercion and will constitute an obstacle to rehabilitation.
Specific groups in need of special assistance include the elderly, individuals with disabilities, single-parent families, large families, immigrants and asylum seekers, and individuals living in poverty. Another important group, of course, is the families of those who have been murdered, taken hostage, or harmed in some way by Hamas, as well as individuals who were direct witnesses to the massacre and acts of terror. They are particularly in need of intensive support and assistance for the long term, which should be provided by the welfare services and resilience centers and within the framework of the Compensation for Victims of Hostile Action Act.
Prof. Gal sums up as follows: “The government’s response to the evacuees must go beyond temporary assistance or a financial grant or even initial humanitarian support such as housing and food. It should include the efficient and wise investment of resources in high-quality housing solutions that will meet the needs of the evacuated. And let’s not forget the communities that have absorbed the evacuees — they also require financial assistance and designated services.”