The United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) concluded a US$ 1.5 million agreement project funded by The King Salman Center for Relief and Humanitarian Aid (KSrelief).

UNRWA said in a press release that the project enhances access to vital health care services for Palestine refugees in Gaza during the COVID-19 crisis. The project enabled UNRWA to maintain services in its 22 health centres, making essential health services available to the some 1.4 million refugees who call the besieged Strip home.

In response to the global COVID-19 pandemic, UNRWA issued an Emergency Flash Appeal to alleviate the strain on the fragile public health system. With generous support from KSrelief, UNRWA was able to ensure that Palestine refugees received health care during the COVID-19 pandemic and lessened the burden on the Gazan public health sector.

As the blockade on Gaza enters its fifteenth year, a majority of Palestine refugees continue to live under the poverty line. The COVID-19 pandemic further compounds the impacts of the blockade on the coastal enclave’s already fragile economy.

“The Agency’s partnership with KSrelief allowed UNRWA to expand activities of its health programme to manage COVID-19 cases, as well as provide critical personal protective equipment to UNRWA medical staff. In addition, the UNRWA health programme was also able to maintain essential health services, including non-communicable disease care with the provision of insulin and other anti-hypertension medications. The Agency went the extra mile by creating a home delivery system by which Palestine refugees were provided with medication to their doorsteps, in line with COVID-19 best practices. Thank you for making this possible KSrelief,” said Thomas White, Director of UNRWA Affairs in Gaza.