NORTH GAZA — The horror is still happening under the sky of Gaza. This is not only a humanitarian disaster, but also a health disaster that haunts all Gazans. Sanitation facilities and access to clean water have become increasingly difficult. Israel’s atrocities against the Palestinians have entered their seventh month. A total of 34,500 Palestinians have been killed. The prolonged conflict has also forced 80 percent of Gaza’s 2.3 million residents to flee their homes and flock to southern cities that are now on the brink of acute hunger.
Alhamdulillah, in the midst of this difficult situation, on Wednesday (26/06/2024), Dompet Dhuafa once again sent humanitarian aid to the Palestinians in the form of the establishment of a Medical Point or emergency hospital. This facility was established to serve the health of the Palestinian people, especially in North Gaza, and will soon operate to provide health services in the next 1-2 months.
Read also: The Urgency of Qurbani Distribution for Palestine
“Because it is far from medical services and secondly during the Israeli army invasion, the Indonesian Hospital (RS) and Kamal Adwan Hospital are under repair, so there is a need for another place for medical services. In addition, it also requires a large space for ambulance parking,” said Dompet Dhuafa’s local partner, Alfursan Palestinian Emergency Association (FPEA).
According to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA), Israeli attacks have damaged 84% of health facilities in the Gaza Strip. In addition, the conflict also destroyed the sanitation system in the strip while displacing most of the residents. This has left many Palestinians living in tents near sewage-contaminated water and growing piles of garbage.
Read also: Partnering with Dompet Dhuafa, DSNI Amanah sends prepared food aid to the Palestinians
“Currently, health facilities are declining due to many factors including lack of medical personnel, fuel, damage to facilities, and financial procurement and minimum needs of medical teams,” he added.
Alhamdulillah, thanks to the kindness of donors, Medical Point will be equipped with a container for obgyn services. For medical personnel at the Medical Point itself, there are four doctors, eight nurses, an ambulance and a team of paramedics.
Efforts to obtain permission to establish this Medical Point continue to be made by Dompet Dhuafa’s local partners. Thanks to the hard work of local partners, Dompet Dhuafa managed to establish one Medical Point that was approved by the government. This Medical Point was established due to the high need of the community for health services, with the main priority of saving the lives of patients.
In addition, the need for logistics, medicines, children’s milk is also increasing.
“The pressure for us at the moment is the support for this Medical Point. Because, the needs of the residents are not only consultation and wound care, they need medicines, pampers, milk for children and others. All of that costs money. While we are digging and while, Insha Allah, in the future we might be able to get support, either from you or other parties,” said the FPEA representative.
Hit hard by the storm, by mid-June the World Health Organization (WHO) had reported tens of thousands of cases of upper respiratory infections, diarrhea, lice, scabies, chickenpox, skin rashes and meningitis in UN shelters. Piles of garbage and stagnant water are also visible in almost every corner of the city in the tiny enclave. Meanwhile, families say they are suffering from the outbreak of disease, especially among children.
“Dompet Dhuafa strives to continue to connect the kindness of donors, we will continue to send aid to the Palestinian people, of course Dompet Dhuafa needs the embrace of various parties through collaborative goodness, so that many Palestinians will be helped later,” said Dr. Yeni Purnamasari, General Manager of Dompet Dhuafa Health. (Dompet Dhuafa)
Text and photo: Anndini Dwi Putri
Editor: Ronna