On 10 May, the Israeli army of occupation launched a large-scale military operation against the Gaza Strip. The human and material damage is enormous, and the need for healthcare is even greater than before. The Union of Health Work Committees (UHWC), our partner in Gaza, is doing everything in its power to continue providing medical care for everyone.
The Israeli air strikes came after weeks of protests by the Palestinian people against Israel's ethnic cleansing in Jerusalem and the Jordan Valley. Palestinians in historic Palestine are rebelling against Israel's apartheid policies in many cities.
256 Palestinians were killed, including 66 children, and almost 2,000 were injured by Israeli air strikes. 14 years of draconian blockade, several armed attacks and the covid19 pandemic have brought the Gaza Strip's health sector to the brink of collapse.
«The health sector seriously affected».»
Our partner the Union of Health Work Committees is on the front line with its Al Awda hospital and its health centres to treat those injured by Israeli air strikes and those in need of urgent care. Al-Awda hospital has been designated as the emergency hospital in the northern region of the Gaza Strip. It is estimated that they will treat 58 % of the total number of wounded in the Gaza Strip. In addition, health workers are working 24 hours a day in six UHWC primary health centres across the Gaza Strip.
A few days after the ceasefire, we were able to speak to Dr Ahmed, Director of Al Awda, the UHWC hospital, our partner in Gaza. His moving account speaks volumes.
«The health sector has been seriously affected by the war. Fortunately, there were no casualties among our hospital staff. However, two colleagues lost their homes, which were completely destroyed. The greatest tragedy for the health sector was the death of Dr Ayman al-Ouf. He was head of internal medicine at Shifa Hospital, the largest hospital in Gaza. He was also a volunteer in one of the UHWC health centres in Gaza City. He was known for his commitment and was one of the few doctors who did not have a private practice in addition to his work at the public hospital. He was killed in the bombing of his home along with 14 members of his family.»
UHWC staff are still caring for the many injured in their hospital in Al Awda. They are also continuing to focus on mobile consultations, which they had already started when the coronavirus pandemic broke out. They make home visits, for example to pregnant women throughout the Gaza Strip who are unable to go to hospital or health centres because of the coronavirus, but also to patients who dare not travel because of the war and the fear caused by the violence. UHWC volunteers are also rolling up their sleeves and clearing the streets of debris so that ambulances can get moving again.
Help us provide medical care in Gaza
Needs were already very high because of the suffocating blockade imposed by Israel. They have only increased in recent weeks. The entire UHWC team is determined to continue providing the necessary care to the entire population of Gaza. The staff need medical equipment and fuel to run the electricity generators, as the power cuts are even more frequent following the Israeli attacks.
Support them via this action page. You can also make a bank transfer to account BE15 0010 4517 8030 with «Gaza 2021» in the message.
