Orthopedic Surgeries Project… Spreading Smiles in Refugee Camps

In one of the most deprived and poor areas in a Palestinian refugee camp in Lebanon, the Palestine Red Crescent Society, in cooperation with the Qatar Red Crescent Society, is building bridges to help heal the wounds of Palestinians through several humanitarian, heath, educational, social and relief projects.
 

One such project is the Child Orthopedic Surgeries Project, which has fulfilled the dreams of 32 Palestinian children, enabling them to walk and to move freely, turning their pain into hope for a better future.
 

The first phase of the Project was concluded in Beirut in the presence of Mohamad Hassan Jaber, Representative of the Embassy of Qatar, Mr. Hamid Mouharar, head of the Rehabilitation and Development Section at the Qatar Red Crescent Society, Mr. Salvatore Lombardo, Director General of UNRWA in Lebanon, Dr. Salah al Ahmad, Head of Medical Services at PRCSlebanon, Mr. Gerard Jonkman, Representative of the Dutch Red Cross Society, Professor Ismat Ghanem who performed these surgeries and engineer Waseem al Mougharbel, President of the Guidance and Islamic Charity Association.
 

A total of 45 surgeries were performed on 32 children (some children required more than one operation) with funding from the Qatar Red Crescent Society for a total of more than 250.000 USD. The surgeries took place at Al Hamshari hospital under the supervision of the Lebanese Professor Dr. Ismat Ghanem. This Project is implemented in cooperation with UNRWA, the Dutch Red Cross and PRCS and was executed by the Guidance and Islamic Charity Association (Beirut).
 

According to Hamid Mouharar, “children are the joy of life. They are the future and the parents of tomorrow. That is why they deserve our full efforts and attention in order to advance society. The Qatar Red Crescent Society has been present in refugee camps in Lebanon for more than five years and has implemented tens of projects. I personally have overseen many projects in different parts of the world, but this project has won my heart because it made me feel how much children, mothers and families were suffering because of their children’s disabilities and how we managed to bring back hope and joy to them”.
 

Dr. al Ahmad said that the Project has improved these children’s quality of life and has reduced the high cost of surgeries which could not have been performed without support from the Qatar Red Crescent Society.