Jerusalem, Wednesday 13 June 2018 - The Italian Cooperation and the WHO signed this morning a Cost Sharing Agreement related to the Programme “Health System strengthening in the occupied Palestinian territory” for a total amount of 300,000 euro. The initiative will ensure continuity with the ongoing WHO project funded by AICS Jerusalem in 2017 for 700,000 euro and aimed at strengthening the health system toward universal health coverage. 

The new project will support in particular the Palestinian Ministry of Health to consolidate the health system in the Family Practice (integrating different levels of care services and supporting the roll-out of the Family Practice Approach), the Health Information systems (consolidating the local capacity in analyzing data and produce valuable information) and the Cancer Registry (developing a standardized procedure for cancer reporting processes and enhancing quality and quantity of collected data). 

The Agreement has been signed by the Consul General of Italy in Jerusalem H.E. Fabio Sokolowicz and the WHO Representative Dr Gerald Rockenschaub, at the presence of the AICS Jerusalem Representative Ms. Cristina Natoli. 

Humanitarian Coordinator, WHO, OHCHR and OCHA call for the protection of medical worker

Jerusalem, 2 June 2018 - United Nations officials and agencies have expressed their outrage in the face of yesterday’s killing of Razan An Najjar, a 21-year-old female volunteering as a first responder, while carrying out her humanitarian duties with the Palestinian Medical Relief Society (PMRS). Razan was hit by live ammunition fired by Israeli forces while trying, with other first responders, to reach those injured during the ‘Great March of Return’ demonstrations close to Israel’s perimeter fence around 18:30. She was taken immediately to a trauma stabilization point, and then to the European Gaza Hospital, where she died just after 19:00. Three others in her team were also injured.

“Healthcare workers must be allowed to perform their duties without fear of death or injury,” said the Humanitarian Coordinator Mr Jamie McGoldrick. “The killing of a clearly-identified medical staffer by security forces during a demonstration is particularly reprehensible. It is difficult to see how it squares with Israel’s obligation as occupying power to ensure the welfare of the population of Gaza.”

These latest incidents come on top of an already-staggering number of attacks on healthcare personnel reported between 30 March and 27 May: 245 health workers and 40 ambulances have been affected by such attacks, according to data provided by the Palestinian Ministry of Health, the Palestinian Red Crescent Society, PMRS and the Union of Health Work Committees. Many of these were hit by live ammunition.

“Reports indicate that Razan was assisting injured demonstrators and wearing her first responder clothing, clearly distinguishing her as a healthcare worker even from a distance,” said James Heenan, Head of Office, Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights in the occupied Palestinian territory (oPt). “Reports suggest that she was shot in the back about 100 metres from the fence. Under international human rights law, which applies in this context along with international humanitarian law, lethal force may only be used as a last resort and when there is an imminent threat of death or serious injury. It is very difficult to see how Razan posed such a threat to heavily-armed, well-protected Israeli forces in defensive positions on the other side of the fence.”

Attacks on medical teams in Gaza not only risk the life and health of staff and patients, but also undermine the overall capacity of Gaza’s health system, which is already suffering from chronic underfunding and massive pressure, compounded by the more than ten years of blockade.

The World Health Organization (WHO) has called for the protection of health workers and patients at all times. DrGerald Rockenschaub, Head of the WHO office in the oPt, stated: “Today, our thoughts are with the family of Razan, and with our colleagues from the PMRS. Such attacks on health care must not happen and we need to enhance our efforts to ensure the protection of our frontline health workers. There are clear obligations to safeguard healthcare under international law and these must be respected.”

ENDS

For more information please contact the following people:

• For WHO: Ms. Juliana Nassar, Cette adresse e-mail est protégée contre les robots spammeurs. Vous devez activer le JavaScript pour la visualiser. or +972 (0) 54 717 9042;
• For OHCHR: Ms. Marina Mattirolo, Cette adresse e-mail est protégée contre les robots spammeurs. Vous devez activer le JavaScript pour la visualiser. or +972 (0) 58 779 3528;
• For the Humanitarian Coordinator and OCHA: Mr. Ofir Feuerstein, Cette adresse e-mail est protégée contre les robots spammeurs. Vous devez activer le JavaScript pour la visualiser. or +972 (0) 54 3311 836

Deputy Minister of Health Dr Assad Ramlawi speaks at the Health Cluster meeting on 31 May 2018May 2018 - Members of the oPt Health Cluster met to review the preparedness and response plan in advance of the potential mass demolition and forcible transfer of the Palestinian Bedouin community of Khan al Ahmar – Abu al Helu, located on the outskirts of East Jerusalem in the occupied West Bank.

The Health Cluster discussed their joint operational response, as well as avenues of interaction with other sectors in advocating for the protection of this community and preventing the demolition. 

More than 200 people, representing 32 families, live in this small Bedouin community, where most are Palestinian refugees and nearly 50% are children. Villagers of Khan al-Ahmer today also include 4 pregnant women and 2 disabled children.

Currently, the community is served by mobile health clinics run by the Ministry of Health (MoH), the Palestinian Medical Relief Society (PMRS), the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) and Medical Aid for Palestinians (MAP-UK).

Health Cluster partners are continuing to work closely with the MoH to upscale their services and meet the health needs of the community; this includes emergency care, maternal and child healthcare and also services to those who are chronically ill. Meanwhile, the Health Cluster will continue to advocate for the protection of the community in order to prevent a demolition.

The Health Cluster will continue to advocate for the protection of this community and will provide all of its technical, financial and human capabilities to ensure the timely and effective functioning of Mobile Clinics and enhanced support during emergency peaks. This entails additional medical staffing, involving surgeons, medical emergency teams, and volunteers, among others.