GENEVA, Switzerland – As the ceasefire in the occupied Palestinian territory (oPt) holds the World Health Organisation (WHO) is scaling up its response to provide health aid for almost 200,000 people in need across the oPt. WHO has so far provided essential medicines to support trauma care and ambulance services for more than 2,000 injured beneficiaries in the Gaza Strip, and ten triage and treatment tents by WHO have been set up outside six MoH 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 referral of patients out of Gaza whenever needed”, said Dr Rik Peeperkorn Head of Office WHO oPt.
With COVID-19 still a persistent threat, WHO & UNICEF, through COVAX, has supported the delivery of more than 260,000 doses of COVID-19 vaccines to oPt – including 60,000 doses delivered today — and WHO provided essential medicines and consumables to East Jerusalem. As of May 31, 2021, – 337,191 confirmed cases of COVID-19 and 3,765 deaths have been reported in OPT, with positive cases increasing in Gaza in recent weeks.
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 9,000 injuries. Over 77,000 people were internally displaced and around 30 health facilities have been damaged. Around 600 referral health facilities were affected due to closure of the crossings during the escalation of hostilities.
On May 20, WHO launched the appeal for US$ 7 million to support its health operations over the next six months, focusing on trauma and emergency care; mental health and psychosocial services; advocacy; and maintaining essential health services including COVID-19. To date, 2.3 million USD has been received from 7.0 million needed for a 6-month period.
“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 head of office WHO oPt.
