WHO is concerned about the rapid deterioration of Palestinians’ equitable access to adequate and effective medical services. This is mainly the result of the Palestinian Ministry of Health’s financial crisis which has followed the Palestinian Legislative Council elections in January 2006. The Government of Israel has stopped handing over the tax and customs revenues it collects on behalf of the Palestinian Authority (PA) and international donors have suspended direct aid to the Ministry of Health. As a consequence of these measures, the PA has been unable to pay regular salaries since March 2006. Read more about WHO concerned about lack of access to healthcare in occupied Palestine
A newly-published assessment of health facilities in Lebanon shows that a quarter of those examined are not functioning due to physical damage, lack of staff or lack of accessibility, and that water and fuel shortages remain a serious concern. At the same time, demands on the health system are growing given the numbers of people injured during the conflict, and people returning to their communities requiring health care. The assessment, by the Lebanon Ministry of Health and the World Health Organization, looked at more than 400 health facilities in Lebanon in the areas most affected by the conflict. Read more about Lebanon health facilities have suffered considerable damage
The Palestinian Health Ministry is facing a growing financial crisis as well as a humanitarian crisis, the World Health Organization (WHO) warned ahead of the Stockholm donor conference on the humanitarian situation in the West Bank and Gaza Strip. The health component of the revised UN humanitarian appeal for the territory is critically underfunded despite growing humanitarian needs, especially in Gaza. The situation in the West Bank and Gaza Strip has been deteriorating due to a severe funding crisis and the recent escalation of violence, on top of five years of the Intifada. Israel’s actions have had an extremely negative impact on the health of the Palestinian people. Read more about Palestinian Health Ministry in financial crisis, World Health Organization warns
United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East, UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, World Food Programme, World Health Organization, UN Food and Agriculture Organization, United Nations Children's Fund, United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) and United Nations Development Fund for Women (UNIFEM)
3 August 2006
The United Nations humanitarian agencies working in the occupied Palestinian territory are deeply alarmed by the impact continuing violence is having on civilians and civilian infrastructure in Gaza, which has resulted in a sharp decline in the humanitarian situation facing 1.4 million people, more than half of them children. We are concerned that with international attention focusing on Lebanon, the tragedy in Gaza is being forgotten. We estimate that since 28 June, 175 Palestinians have been killed, including approximately 40 children and eight women, and over 620 injured in the Gaza Strip. Read more about UN Agencies: Deeply alarmed by continuing violence in Gaza
Civilian deaths include dozens of children, with many more injured. The psychological impact is serious, as people, including children have witnessed the death or injury of loved ones and destruction of their homes and communities. In Lebanon alone, more than 200 people have been killed and more than 550 injured. Hundreds of thousands of people are reportedly internally displaced, with more than 30,000 finding refuge in schools and public gardens in and outside Beirut. The movement of medical supplies and ambulances to the affected areas is seriously curtailed. Read more about UNICEF and WHO on escalating violence in Lebanon and Israel
During 2002, half of the Palestinian population was unable to consult their usual health services, due to border closures and curfews, a World Health Organization (WHO) survey published today reveals. Read more about Severe mobility restrictions force Palestinian population to change health services
In an unprecedented call for protection, international, Israeli and Palestinian aid agencies joined together today to call upon the Government of Israel to ensure that its military respects the neutrality of all health personnel, services and property in the Occupied Palestinian Territory (oPt) including east Jerusalem. Since the start of the current conflict in September 2000, 25 Palestinian health workers, including ambulance drivers, doctors, nurses and medical volunteers, have been killed and 419 have been injured. Read more about International, Israeli, Palestinian health workers call on Israeli Government to guarantee health workers protection
Dr Gro Harlem Brundtland, WHO Director-General, announced today that the health situation of people in the occupied Palestinian territory is deteriorating as a result of the escalation of the conflict compounded by further border closures and curfews throughout the West Bank and Gaza Strip since March 2002. Read more about Health situation of Palestinian people living in the occupied Palestinian Territory
