Under the directives of His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the United Arab Emirates, the country signed a US$ 25 million cooperation agreement in support of Al Makassed Hospital in East Jerusalem. This came as part of the United Arab Emirates’ efforts to support the medical and health care sectors in the occupied Palestinian teritory in collaboration with the World Health Organization (WHO) and in coordination with the Office of the United Nations Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process (UNSCO).

HE Sultan Mohammed Al Shamsi, Assistant Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation for International Development Affairs, said that the signing of this agreement reflected the United Arab Emirates' consistent and historic commitment to the Palestinian people in meeting their humanitarian needs, especially in the health sector. The Assistant Minister highlighted the notable efforts of WHO and UNSCO in collaborating with the United Arab Emirates to strengthen the capacities of Palestinian hospitals in providing health care to the Palestinian people. At Al Makassed Hospital in particular, it is expected that more than 130,000 people will benefit from its health services.

“The COVID-19 pandemic has demonstrated that health is not a luxury, but a human right, and it is central to development,” said Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General. “We thank the United Arab Emirates for its generous donation, leading role and commitment to improving the delivery of quality health services for the Palestinian people.”

Lynn Hastings, United Nations Resident Coordinator for the Occupied Palestinian Territory, thanked the Government of the United Arab Emirates for its timely and generous support, which she said will help ensure the continuity of essential health services by Al Makassed Hospital, which is an important part of the East Jerusalem Hospital Network.

“The United Arab Emirates’ contributions will be vital in sustaining the immediate and critical delivery of essential health care services at Al Makassed Hospital, including referral cases,” said Dr Rik Peeperkorn, WHO Representative in the occupied Palestinian territory. “It will also improve the quality of Al Makassed’s Obstetrics and Gynecology Department and assist in the training of medical specialists for all of Palestine.”

Dr Adnan Farhoud, Director-General of Al Makassed Hospital, thanked President H.H. Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan for the humanitarian gesture and underscored the degree to which such support will transform the hospital’s operations and services.