Each week, the World Health Organization Health Action in Crises in Geneva produces information highlights on critical health-related activities in countries where there are humanitarian crises. Drawing on the various WHO programmes, contributions cover activities from field and country offices and the support provided by WHO regional offices and headquarters. The mandate of the WHO departments specifically concerned with Emergency and Humanitarian Action in Crises is to increase the effectiveness of the WHO contribution to crisis preparedness and response, transition and recovery. This note, which is not exhaustive, is designed for internal use and does not reflect any official position of the WHO Secretariat.
OCCUPIED PALESTINIAN TERRITORY
- WHO issued a statement by the Director General concerning the health situation in and around Gaza (Full WHO Statement).
- On 18 January, the UN Emergency Relief Coordinator stated during a press conference that if prolonged, the already serious humanitarian situation would become "extremely severe and totally unacceptable".
- UNRWA estimates that at least 700 000 Gazans have flooded over the border into Egypt over the past two days, nearly half the territory's population.
Assessments and Events
- As a result of the closure of the Gaza Strip, two out of the 11 MoH hospitals declared a state of emergency and stopped activities in all departments during the hours of electricity outage, except for emergency and intensive care units. After the border reopened, the distribution of fuel to health facilities has slowly resumed, reaching so far Shifa, Gaza Paediatrics and Gaza European hospitals.
- The restrictions on the movement of goods and people impede access to quality heath care, while the referral to tertiary care services outside the occupied Palestinian territory is obstructed by frequent border closures.
- According to UNICEF and the Costal Municipalities Water Utility, 40 to 50% of Gazans still do not have access to water. Waste water management pumps are working only partially when electricity is available.
Actions
- WHO continues organizing the procurement, transport and delivery of drugs and medical supplies under the ECHO-funded project. The first drugs funded by Spain have been delivered to the warehouse.
- WHO visited district and hospital pharmacies in Tulkarem, Nablus, Hebron and Jericho to monitor drug availability and shortages and to assess the need for training in stock-keeping and equipments maintenance. After finalizing an onthe- job training in the clinics of Nablus, the MoH is now applying the new procedure. WHO will oversee implementation in one pilot primary health care clinic.
- District monitoring is ongoing. This week, WHO visited four hospitals in the Gaza Strip, two health district primary health care facilities, and two mental health facilities.
- The UN and humanitarian partner agencies have launched their largest ever appeal for Palestinians - US$ 462 million - as the population of the West Bank and Gaza Strip is forced into greater dependency on humanitarian assistance.
- In 2007, WHO's emergency activities were supported by ECHO, Italy, Norway, OCHA/Spain, and the CERF.