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Staggering health needs emerge in the occupied Palestinian territory in the wake of recent escalations
Destruction in Gaza following Israeli strike May 2021 © Photo by Mohammad Libed / OCHACairo, 1 June 2021 – As the ceasefire in the occupied Palestinian territory (oPt) holds, WHO is scaling up its response to provide health aid for almost 200 000 people in need. WHO has so far provided essential medicines to support trauma care and ambulance services for more than 2000 injured beneficiaries in the Gaza Strip, and 10 triage and treatment tents by WHO have been set up outside 6 Ministry of Health emergency departments, also in the Gaza Strip.
“The situation is volatile. WHO remains concerned about the situation in oPt and calls for unhindered access for humanitarian and development-related essential supplies and staff into Gaza and the referral of patients out of Gaza whenever needed,” said Dr Rik Peeperkorn, WHO Representative in oPt.
With COVID-19 still a persistent threat, WHO and UNICEF, through the COVAX Facility, have supported the delivery of more than 260 000 doses of COVID-19 vaccines to oPt, including 60 000 doses delivered today. As of 31 May 2021, 337 191 confirmed cases of COVID-19 and 3765 deaths have been reported, with positive cases increasing in Gaza in recent weeks. WHO has also provided essential medicines and consumables to East Jerusalem.
Earlier armed conflict in oPt sparked further population displacement and exacerbated a prolonged humanitarian crisis. Hostilities resulted in a loss of 278 Palestinian lives and over 9000 injuries. Over 77 000 people were internally displaced and around 30 health facilities have been damaged. Around 600 referral patients were affected due to closure of the crossings during the escalation of hostilities.
On 20 May, WHO launched an appeal for US$ 7 million to support its health operations for the next 6 months, focusing on trauma and emergency care, mental health and psychosocial services, advocacy, and maintaining essential health services, including for COVID-19. To date, US$ 2.3 million has been received from the US$ 7 million appeal.
“Palestinians’ lives are deteriorating; many of the people affected by the conflict are in urgent need of aid and face other health threats like COVID-19. WHO is working to support the Palestinian health system and its partners in its emergency humanitarian response and calls for the support of the international community in these efforts,” said Dr Rik Peeperkorn.
Updates on escalation in occupied Palestine territory 2021
About our reports:
These flash updates will report on the latest impact on health and people’s lives as a result of the escalations of violence across oPt, both from the continuing aerial bombardment of the Gaza Strip and settler-related unrest in the West Bank including East Jerusalem.
Escalation flash updates:
Zubaidat: Maintaining primary care provision during COVID-19
5 May 0201 - 33-year-old Amani is a mother of three and nurse who works with a mobile clinic team of the Palestine Red Crescent Society (PRCS). She has been working with the team for the past four years, providing primary care services to underserved and remote Palestinian communities in Area C, which comprises approximately 60% of the West Bank that remains under Israeli civil and military control. The area has been the focus of Israeli settlement expansion, with accompanying severe restrictions on Palestinian development of infrastructure. Restrictions affect the development of permanent or semi-permanent health facilities, placing dependence on mobile clinic teams for provision of essential health services. However, access can be unpredictable and precarious, a situation that has been exacerbated during the COVID-19 pandemic.
One of the communities served by the PRCS mobile clinic that Amani works for is Az-Zubaidat village in the Jericho governorate of the central Jordan Valley. The community experienced an outbreak of COVID-19 in September 2020, but the clinic continued to provide its essential services.
Amani stated, “It’s true we were extremely scared, but our fear didn’t prevent us from providing our service to the fullest extent. People in the community were very thankful to us for the effort. They felt they were not alone during this time, and we were the only organisation in the area able to maintain our services. To this day we have continued. The weather in September was really hot. After the visit when we would take off the protective gear and all our clothes would be wet. Still we were happy we provided the service.”
The clinic provides screening services, medical consultations, women’s health services, and women’s education and empowerment activities. Amani is also involved in home visits to women who have just given birth, to carry out check-ups on mother and baby. During COVID-19, the clinic provided additional services including health promotion and awareness, provision of hygiene kits, and COVID-19 screening services. The team would answer the questions of community member and explain to them the symptoms of COVID-19 and where to seek assistance or medical help.
A difficulty of health care provision during this period has been the stigma towards health care workers, including comments Amani endured from other colleagues and family members for continuing to visit affected areas. “When other colleagues would come to the mobile clinic office, they would automatically wear their mask before coming close to us. They kept telling us to be careful as they were worried. Distant family also commented about my work as they were scared I would bring the virus home.”
With restrictions of movement and closure of schools many working mothers were asked to take days off to be able to spend time with their children. Amani wasn’t able to take a single day of annual leave during 2020 and spent all her time providing support to families served by the clinic. While she was at work, Amani’s family, including her aunts and grandparents, helped with childcare.
“People know about the Palestine Red Crescent Society and the services we provide. We didn’t stop visiting our communities for a single day. When you provide a service and see people’s appreciation for your work, you realize it is important and you forget your fears. You want to help more. I knew that these people needed our help, and we were the only organisation able to visit them during that time.”
Primary care provision at Humsa following mass demolitions
30 April 2021 - Humsa is a collection of Bedouin communities comprising around 175 people, in the north Jordan Valley in the West Bank.
Two major incidents of demolitions by Israeli forces at Humsa Al Bqai’a occurred in February 2021, where 60 people including 35 children were left displaced and at risk of forcible transfer. The community was provided tents, kitchen utensils and other essential support by humanitarian agencies. The Palestine Red Crescent Society (PRCS) outreach team was approached by the community after the demolitions took place and has since been visiting the community to provide primary health care and women health services, along with medicines, hygiene kits, food parcels and tents to individuals and families. The mobile clinic team comprises a doctor, nurse, social worker, and driver.
The communities of Humsa are remote and in areas designated as firing zones by Israeli forces. Road access is difficult, made more hazardous by the wet conditions during the early visits in winter. There are several kilometres between each community. The nearest permanent primary health facility is some 12 to 20 km away (depending on the community), with no public transport and few cars available to make the journey.
Afaf is the social worker with the clinic. She commented, “People in this area, especially women, face a lot of pressure and
difficulties. Their basic needs are not being met. Women have to cross over hills to bring the water they need.” Afaf provides health promotion and awareness services for the women, focused on areas such as nutrition in pregnancy and child health. “Although we strive to provide health services and support, the difficulties with access for the communities and the severe restrictions on development of infrastructure for basic necessities like water, housing and electricity affect the health of the communities badly. Some families have been divided so that the children can attend schools, which are closer for some communities than others.”
Humsa Al Bqai’a has been subject to four mass demolitions/confiscations since 2014, affecting homes as well as structures for water, hygiene, sanitation, and agriculture. Demolitions and restricted planning in Area C of the West Bank impact on community health by affecting access to affordable clean water, and in turn livelihoods, poverty, and food security. Rural Palestinian communities in the Jordan Valley experience higher rates of stunting and childhood malnutrition. Community mental health meanwhile is affected by the situation of precarity that arise from insecurity of housing and exposure to high levels of violence.
