Gaza and the West Bank

COUNTRY BACKGROUND

Gaza and the West Bank are home to one of history’s longest-running and most intractable humanitarian crises. Violence and isolation have devastated the already fragile economy and social service systems, forcing nearly 80% of the population into poverty and dependence on UN agencies for food rations, according to Save the Children. The World Health Organization also reports significant shortages in drugs, medical supplies and hospital beds along with increasing rates of chronic disease and malnutrition, especially among young children.

Decreasing levels of international funding of humanitarian efforts has placed a massive strain on the already under-resourced non-governmental organization health care sector as it attempts to fill the gap between the needs of the populations and limited Ministry of Health services.

GLOBAL MEDICAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAM

Stocking Empty Shelves as Conditions Worsen in Gaza and the West Bank
AmeriCares has been working with American Near East Refugee Aid (ANERA) since 1993 to provide regular shipments of humanitarian assistance for civilians in Gaza and the West Bank.

ANERA is an American non-governmental organization with five program offices in Israel, Gaza and the West Bank. In addition to educational, community and economic development initiatives, ANERA works with 70 institutions in Gaza and the West Bank. These institutions range from primary care clinics to hospitals, all of which count poor and marginalized communities among their patient populations. AmeriCares helps these institutions care for patients by providing general hospital supplies, medicines, nutritional supplements and hygiene items. Occasionally we also support educational activities with donations of school supplies. ANERA estimates that 250,000 people in Gaza and the West Bank directly benefit from their health and social service programs.

In fiscal year 2007 AmeriCares delivered 14 shipments valued at more than $21.7 million into Gaza and the West Bank. AmeriCares aid went to 28 health and 41 social service institutions in Gaza and the West Bank. These include specialized hospitals and health campaigns focusing on maternal and child health as well as ophthalmology and diabetes, primary care clinics and centers, schools and community programs.

Despite escalating security measures that complicate the importing of humanitarian assistance to the Palestinian territories, particularly Gaza, AmeriCares has been able to maintain a schedule of regular of shipments.* Our partner, ANERA, plays a vital role in navigating the customs clearance process. Critically needed medicines, hospital supplies and other relief items have stocked empty shelves in Khan Younis, Wadi Salaqa, Gaza City, Rafa and Jaballia Village among others locations in Gaza, and Bethlehem, Hebron, Jenin, Jerusalem and Nablus among others locations in the West Bank.

* AmeriCares observes the United States Bureau of Industry and Security regulations for exports and the State Department regulations regarding beneficiaries of assistance.