In Palestine too, the fight against the coronavirus is getting under way. A pandemic that is all the more complicated to manage because it is spreading in a territory under occupation.
The borders are guarded by the occupying army, which controls all imports, including medical equipment (masks, gloves, anti-bacterial soaps, etc.). Thousands of checkpoints dot the West Bank, preventing ambulances from travelling freely. For the moment, the entire West Bank is under confinement to prevent the spread of the coronavirus. There is not enough medical equipment, respirators or intensive care units to cope with the growing number of infected people.
If Covid-19 were to spread to Gaza, it would be an unprecedented health disaster in the world's most densely populated open-air prison.
Not to mention the Gaza, which has been under blockade for over 13 years. There, two cases tested positive and were immediately placed under quarantine. If Covid-19 were to spread there, it would be an unprecedented health disaster in the world's most densely populated open-air prison.
Our partners and the youth movements they work with have therefore decided to get organised: they have created flyers explaining what to do to avoid the spread of the virus, they are distributing hygiene kits and food parcels to families in quarantine and/or who are ill, they are disinfecting the streets at night, they are telephoning the elderly and patients in health centres to check on them and see if everything is going well, they are creating videos to give tips on how to keep busy during the confinement period, etc.
The Palestinian healthcare system is highly privatised and based on a two-speed system that weakens the most vulnerable members of society. This is also an opportunity for our partners to highlight the importance of a strong public health care system to better manage this crisis, but also the importance of putting an end to the occupation, which greatly reduces the Palestinians' ability to respond to this crisis.
What can you do?
Follow our healthcare workers on WhatsApp
1. Add Viva Salud to your contacts on your mobile phone with the number 0470 82 72 22.
2. Send us a message with your name and “I'd like to register”.”
3. We will keep you informed.
Support our partners' fight with a donation
You can also make a donation by bank transfer to the account number
Viva Health: BE15 0010 4517 8030 | BIC: GEBABEBB, with the message ‘donate to fight corona’.
Support our partners' fight with a monthly donation
Take part in the campaign
Find out more about our «Support the fight against corona worldwide» campaign:
- how our partners are fighting the coronavirus
- what you can do
- why we need a strong public health system
