Providing Relief in Palestine

With a high rate of unemployment (36% in the West Bank and 60% in the Gaza Strip), a general lack of medical insurance, and average daily salary of $20, obtaining access to medical care for the nearly three million people living in the Palestinian Territories is a challenge. In addition, hospitals in the West Bank and Gaza Strip, both located in the Palestinian Territories, greatly lack much needed medical supplies, are functioning with equipment that is at least 25 years old, and struggle to obtain qualified medical professionals. Recently, the amount of humanitarian medical aid being provided in this area has been reduced in order to respond in other areas of the world. Each factor creates difficulty alone, but when bound together, the result is abundant humanitarian need.

With a desire to help alleviate the suffering, United Muslim Relief (UMR) collaborated with five other Muslim organizations and Globus Relief to provide essential medical aid by sending a container filled with medical resources. Upon arrival in Palestine, the container was given to the Palestine Red Crescent Society. Supplies were then distributed to 13 different hospitals throughout the Palestinian Territories, as well as to the Orphan Association in Jericho.

According to Mohammad Shafi of the Palestine Red Crescent Society, “This project, which [was] funded by Globus Relief and UMR, is the best way to develop the nonprofit medical organization and establish the peace on this land.”