The PRCS 11th General Assembly continues for the second day in its headquarter with a noticeable international attendance

(Al- Bireh – 2/5/2014): The PRCS 11th General Assembly continues for the second day in the Society’s headquarter in Al-Bireh, which was attended by a large number of its members representing the branches and sub branches in Palestine and abroad, in addition to a number of representatives of the components of the International Movement of the Red Cross Red Crescent and other international organizations.

Dr. Younis Khatib, the President of the PRCS, explained the Society’s role in alleviating the suffering of the Palestinian people in a number of countries, particularly in Syria and Lebanon, pointing to the successes of its staff and their commitment to their humanitarian duty despite the challenges.

Moreover, he emphasized that the Society is committed to its humanitarian responsibility towards the Palestinians and all who needs the help. He also explained that many efforts were exerted to prepare the Society’s strategy for the years 2014-2018 which outlines the main directions to fulfill the humanitarian needs of the Palestinian people whenever they are.

He also tackled the diversity of the Assembly ’activities, which include two panel discussions. One is about the PRCS interventions in times of emergencies, and the second tackles reinforcing the capacities of the Palestinian community to become more resilient. On the other hand, he praised the support of partner organizations mainly those of the RCRC Movement.

A number of guests from the International Movement of the RCRC gave speech such as the Vice President of the International Federation of the RCRC Societies (IFRC), Mr. Mettaies Schmeil, The Head of Middle East Operations at the ICRC, Mr. Robert Mardini, the Vice President of Spanish RC, Maneulla Capro, the Norwegian RC representative, Odon Trun, the Vice President of the Swedish RC, Mr. BO Herminson. They all praised the Society’s humanitarian efforts in alleviating the suffering of the Palestinians in Palestine and the Diaspora despite the extreme complicated conditions under which they work. They also stressed on the strong ties and cooperation between their societies and the PRCS

The Assembly featured the presentation of the Executive Office Report for the period 2009 -2013. The report covered the main milestones achieved by the Society in the same period. It also shed light on the humanitarian contribution the Society made in several zones of conflict, namely through coping with the practices of the Israeli occupation during the attack on the Gaza Strip in 2012, in addition to the role it played in the Syrian crisis and the consequences it had on refugees and displaced populations in Lebanon.

The Report pointed out that the Society worked from 2009 through 2013 under extremely complex circumstances and major shifts on the political, security, economic and social levels in the zones where it operates. He explained that the Syrian crisis had repercussions on the humanitarian situation of refugees and impacted Lebanon due to the displacement of a large number of Palestinian refugees from Syria. This added greatly to the burden the Society bears in both Syria and Lebanon.

As regards Syria, the Report showed that in 2013 alone, the 3 hospitals and 7 health centers operated by PRCS, as well as its clinics and Prosthetics factory, provided services to more than 317,000 Palestinian refugees, in addition to Syrians in need.

It highlighted that “more than 24,000 births took place in the mentioned hospitals, and that their emergency units treated 77875 cases.”

As to Lebanon, the Report showed that the Society continued to provide its services to Palestinian refugees living in Lebanon and to those coming in from Syria, as well as to Syrians fleeing to Lebanon. It explained: “In 2013 alone, the number of patients who received medical care in PRCS’ 5 hospitals was 14,059 patients, comprising Syrians (12%) and Palestinians of Syria (14%). During the same year, PRCS clinics provided services to 24,314 patients, 38% of which were Syrian nationals.

It added: “2013 was a very challenging year for the Society, as it had to relieve the consequences the Israeli war had on the citizens of the Gaza Strip in late 2012. From the first moment of the war, PRCS declared a state of maximum alert. The operations room, which was on standby, dealt with 577 injured out of 1224, and transported 88 killed out of 162.”

The report further explained: “The PRCS Gaza Strip Disaster Relief Team distributed relief items to people affected by the war. Furthermore, the Psycho Social Support Program at PRCS provided their services to approximately 5000 people, including children, women and affected families, through more than 100 employees and volunteers.”

It added: “The Society worked in the West Bank within difficult conditions, namely 2 waves of cold weather that had significant consequences. The Society intervened to relieve hundreds of Palestinian families affected by the floods and the snow storm that took place simultaneously. Israeli checkpoints, closures and sanctions added to the difficulties faced by PRCS while providing its humanitarian services.”

“Despite all of these conditions within which it has operated - and still does, PRCS has managed to deal with the circumstances, restructure its programs and strengthen its services in order to reach all areas where Palestinians are. In the years 2009-2013, all its branches, sub branches and specialized central departments continued providing humanitarian services and carrying out their activities in all the Palestinian governorates and the Diaspora, as set out in the Society’s operations plan.”

The Society’s strategy for the years 2014-2018 was also presented. The strategy focused greatly on the Society’s initiatives and contributions in empowering local communities and encountering disasters and crises, which it plans to achieve through a large array of community-based programs.

The strategy pointed out that, in spite of the Society’s achievements on various levels, global and regional changes, particularly economic ones, played a role in the deterioration of the humanitarian condition of Palestinian in the homeland and the Diaspora. This will reflect on the economic capacity of the individual and will increase poverty, illiteracy and unemployment levels.

It also highlighted the growing role of the Society serving refugees, which made PRCS the second humanitarian organization, providing healthcare and social services to refugees through its centers and hospitals.

It explained that the challenges PRCS faces are meeting the growing humanitarian needs of marginalized communities in Palestine and abroad, increasing the financial capacity of the Society, developing and enhancing the quality of its services, developing its human resources and improving its internal regulations and policies.

The strategy addressed PRCS objectives, which it seeks to attain through its various means of intervention, including constantly raising the Society’s level of readiness and capacity for humanitarian intervention in case of disasters, crises, emergencies and difficult living conditions. It also seeks to achieve its goals through actively contributing to building the capacities and resilience of local communities, constantly implementing institutional and resource development of the Society, supporting young people in contributing to social development, consolidating the Society’s partnerships on the local, regional and international levels, as well as with the components of the International Movement of the RCRC and regional and international NGO’s supporting the Society’s role, and, finally, providing healthcare services to meet the needs of local communities.

At the end of the Assembly’s first day, the Society’s report and strategy were approved and committees convened and discussed various relevant subjects.