Gaza branch

 Established in January 2000, the Society’s branch in the Gaza Strip helps allay the suffering of local inhabitants through the provision of various health, social and humanitarian services.

Objectives:

The branch endeavors to:

• Disseminate the principles and objectives of PRCS and the International Movement of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies; 
• Provide health, humanitarian and community-based services to the most disadvantagedgroups; 
•  Build and enhance young people’s capacities in the field of voluntary and humanitarian action; 
•  Advance women’s involvement in their communities; 
•  Allay suffering caused by emergencies and disasters. 

Programs and Services:

The branch offers a wide range of services, as follows:

•   Emergency Medical Services’ Center

The Gaza Strip EMS Center was created in 1996. It is run by a team of well-trained and highly experienced staff and provides 24/7 emergency medical services to patients as well as to the victims of attacks carried out by Israeli occupation forces.

• Primary Health Care (PHC) services

These services are offered in a number of Primary Health Care clinics the first of which, Martyr Khalil Al Wazeer clinic, opened in 1998. PHC services expanded as of 2000 with the creation of Safe Motherhood Committees (SMCs) and the Community-Based Health Awareness Program. SMCs are active in Al Sheikh Ijleen, Tal Al Hawa and Al Zaytoon areas where they educate and raise the awareness of local women in the fields of Mother and Child Health as well as reproductive health. They also run a home visit program.

•  Psychosocial support Program

Initiated in 2009, the Program is run by a team with a view to reducing psychosocial stress especially among victims of Israel’s assaults and blockade. The Program also runs a number of spaces offering various activities to children.

•    Youths and Volunteers’ Program

Initiated in 1995, the Program is the umbrella under which PRCS’ volunteers operate in the Gaza Strip. It also oversees all administrative and technical matters relating to the training and capacity building of youths and volunteers. The Program promotes volunteerism especially amongst young people with a view to building and harnessing their potential in the service of social development. It also spreads knowledge about PRCS’ principles and objectives, raises awareness about mines and unexploded remnants, revives Palestinian folklore, organizes Summer camps, provides support to other PRCS’ departments and engages in voluntary action. 2000 volunteers work hand in hand with the branch under this Program.

•  Disaster Management Unit

Created in 2000, the Disaster Management Unit helps prepare for and respond to both natural and man-made disasters. A PRCS’ team ensures the daily operations of the Unit which aims at covering the basic needs of affected communities (persons affected by Israeli assaults, families living under curfew, communities isolated due to Israel’s blockade, refugees and the elderly). Services include the distribution of relief items, the running of mobile medical units and the harnessing of PRCS’ resources.

 All activities are carried out in close cooperation and coordination with ICRC and local institutions. The Unit engages local communities to ensure they are prepared for disasters.

To this end, volunteers receive training in a number of fields including relief and emergency operations, RapidDamage Assessment, risk reduction, camp management, water and sanitation, field hospitals, support to ambulances and administrative back-stopping. The Unit also raises disaster awareness through the distribution of pamphlets and TV ads.

•  Al Quds Hospital

Built in 2000 as a general and university hospital, Al Quds hospital has a total of 120 beds with an occupancy rate of 80%. During extreme emergencies, the number of beds can be increased to 200. The hospital provides comprehensive health services in the fields of surgery, internal medicine, obstetrics and gynecology, baby incubators, ICU, radiology, CT scans, coloured X-rays and IRMs, breaking and removing kidney stones, dental health and physiotherapy. Several out-patient clinics complement these services and a new catheterization and cardiovascular surgery ward is to be inaugurated in the near future.