This International Human Rights Day, we pause and reflect on the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Gaza. Our core principle, which remains unwavering, is that access to healthcare is not a privilege, but a human right. However, for millions of people, access to essential healthcare has become a distant hope amidst the devastation caused by conflict and violence.
Since the brutal escalation of attacks on October 7, 2023, the situation has grown increasingly worse. So far, at least 44,429 Palestinians have died with 105,000+ injured and over 1.9 million people have been displaced. Furthermore, Israel’s attacks on Gaza have severely damaged infrastructure that the Palestinians require as a basic means to survive – most hospitals, farm lands, bakeries, water and energy sources, and schools have been destroyed. Only a fraction of humanitarian aid has been allowed to enter Gaza, which are inflating costs of basic necessities like food.
In response, we have been supporting 3 medical tents that are providing primary care. The tents are located within camps where displaced Gazans are staying. Currently, 4,000+ patients have received consultations at the tents and over 2,000 patients have received free medicines. A new tent was just opened 2 months ago to provide mental health support and has served 1,000+ people.
Breastfeeding is a life-saving practice in humanitarian emergencies, particularly when alternative forms of nutrition are unavailable. To ensure that infants receive the essential nutrition they need for survival, we are also supporting an additional medical tent that provides infant feeding support. Through the breastfeeding initiative, we are also supporting lactation consultants placed in NICU wards at the Nasser hospitals, Al Aqsa hospital and Al Awda hospital to guide young mothers on how to breastfeed. There is also an urgent need to recognise the aid blockades along the borders, that not only prevents formula milk from reaching the population but also basic vitamins and supplements required for adequate prenatal and antenatal maternal nutrition.
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