The Secretary General of IFRC visits the Gaza Strip

(Gaza-8/6/2015): The Secretary General of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) Elhadj As Sy visited the PRCS’ premises and facilities in the Gaza Strip in order to get better acquainted with the services and programs offered by the Society.

PRCS’ President Dr. Younis Al Khatib, PRCS’ Director General Dr. Khaled Joudeh and several PRCS’ program directors received Mr. Sy and his accompanying delegation. They briefed their guests about the Society’s interventions especially in the aftermath of the latest Israeli attack on the Gaza Strip.
The delegation visited Beit Hanoun, Jabalia and Al Shaja’iyeh where they saw the destruction caused by the latest Israeli attack. Delegation members also visited Al Zanneh to the East of Khan Younis where they perused activities carried out by PRCS’ Psychosocial support programe to the benefit of displaced children.

The delegation then visited PRCS’ branches in Jabalia and Khan Younis, PRCS’ Al Quds Hospital in Gaza and Al Amal Hospital in Khan Younis, the Society’s Rehabilitation Department, Capacity Development College, Open Studio, Medical Rehabilitation Section, Al Amal City for Capacity Development and Central Operations Room. Moreover, Mr. Sy inaugurated the Violence Prevention Course held by PRCS’ Primary Health Care Program for the Society’s volunteers in the Gaza Strip.

Mr. Sy lauded PRCS’ efforts as well as services provided by the Society’s volunteers whom he described as the nerve of humanitarian work within National Societies. He called for an end to all types of violence against all segments of the population and commended the Society’s community-based interventions, especially those targeting children, women and the elderly. There is wide recognition of PRCS’ efforts and interventions in the Gaza Strip aimed at providing relief and assistance to persons affected by destructions and despair, he added.

Dr. Al Khatib expressed his deep appreciation of the vital role played by PRCS’ volunteers to assist Palestinians and allay their suffering. PRCS is making every effort to harness its capacities with a view to enhancing its health and community-based interventions in the Gaza Strip, he said. Al Khatib added that he was delighted to receive the Secretary General of IFRC who is visiting the oPt to get a first-hand view of humanitarian conditions prevailing there as well as of PRCS’ interventions.

Dr. Al Khatib and his guests met with Dr. Moufid Al Hassayneh, Palestinian Housing Minister, as well as with several representatives from international organizations and health partners. Discussions focused on means to improve humanitarian conditions in the Gaza strip and to enhance services especially to families who have lost their homes and properties.