Secretary General of the Norwegian Red Cross Visits PRCS’ Facilities

(Al Bireh – 22/4/2015) : Ms.AsneHavnelid, Secretary General of the Norwegian Red Cross and accompanying delegation visited PRCS’ branch in Hebron. Accompanied by PRCS’ President Dr. Younis Al Khatib and the Society’s Director General, Dr. Khaled Joudeh, the delegation was received by Mr. SamihAbouEisheh, PRCS’ Secretary, member of the Society’s Executive Office and Chairman of the Hebron branch.

Delegation members toured PRCS’ Hospital in Hebron and met with its staff. They lauded the hospital’s services as well as those provided by PRCS’ Al Raja’a Center for Special Education and PRCS’ Psycho socail Center.

Following this visit, the delegation walked around Hebron’s Old City where they got a first-hand view of the suffering of Palestinians due to settlement outposts and checkpoints which hinder their freedom of movement. PRCS’ branch officials described to their guests the harassment that Palestinians face at the hands of Israeli settlers.

The day before, the delegation had visited the Gaza Stripwith Dr. Al Khatib, Dr. Joudeh and several PRCS’ officials from the Gaza Strip. They toured areas bombarded by Israel in BeitHanoun, Al Shaja’ieh, Khaza’a and Jabalia and saw the extent of the destruction sustained by homes, hospitals and other humanitarian facilities.

At PRCS/Jabalia, delegation members were briefed about social and health services provided to Palestinians. Then they stopped by PRCS’ Al Amal City for Ability Development in Khan Younis, where they got acquainted with rehabilitation services provided to the disabled. Their visit to Khan Younis also included stops at Al Amal Hospital, the Ability Development College and the Society’s Psycho social programme. In Gaza City, they visited PRCS’ Al Quds Hospital and were briefed about the services it provides and the challenges it faced during the recurrent Israeli attacks against the Gaza Strip.

The delegation concluded its visit in Qalqilia. Accompanied by Dr. Joudeh, its membersgot a better idea of the Home Enrichment Program for persons with mental disabilities and the Community-based Health Awareness Program, implemented in AzzounAtmeh, and Habala, two Palestinian villages.

Through their visit to Palestine, Norwegian Red Cross officials aimed at getting a closer look at the destruction caused by the latest Israeli attacks on the Gaza Strip and the challenges faced by PRCS during its humanitarian work to alleviate the sufferings of affected Palestinian.