Johanniter in Occupied Palestinian Territories
- We have been working in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank since 2004.
- Activities: emergency medical aid, mother and child health, medical care for eye patients
- Target groups: the population affected by conflict
- Partner organizations: St. John Eye Hospital, Juzoor
Needs and Context
Following Hamas' armed attack on Israel on October 7, 2023 and Israel's military response to Hamas in the Gaza Strip, fighting continues in the region.
People in the occupied territories are confronted with violence and a lack of social and political justice. The construction of the Israeli wall between Israel and the West Bank, the ongoing occupation and the closure of the borders in Gaza have significantly affected the lives of millions of Palestinians and restricted the movement of people and goods as well as the economic and social development of the territories. This has led to trauma, unemployment and poverty.
The ongoing conflict between Israel and non-state armed groups has had a dramatic impact on the humanitarian situation of the civilian population in Gaza and the West Bank.
More than 50,000 Palestinians have been killed in Gaza and more than 125,000 injured. The health system has collapsed and access to food, water and medical care is extremely difficult and limited, threatening large-scale famine. The International Food Security Phased Classification (IPC) report warns that “the situation in Gaza remains catastrophic and there is a high and persistent risk of famine across the Gaza Strip”. Access to medical care for the chronically and acutely ill remains very difficult, as many medical facilities and hospitals have been damaged or destroyed. The acute water shortage increases the risk of illness and death. Buildings and important infrastructure have been destroyed. The ongoing displacement of the civilian population prevents them from settling in safe places where assistance can be provided to meet basic needs.
Our interventions in Occupied Palestinian territories
We support our partner Juzoor in providing basic medical care for displaced persons in the camps in the Gaza Strip and in providing psychosocial care for employees, patients and caregivers who have to work under the most difficult conditions. Our partner St. John Eye Hospital provides medical care for people with eye diseases for the treatment of injuries and for the detection and treatment of people with chronic diseases such as diabetes-related glaucoma, without treatment of which those affected can become partially or completely blind.
Despite the dramatic shortage of food and medicine, we are managing to continue providing for people with our last remaining supplies and through great effort. Together with other organizations, we are campaigning for the borders to be opened and are preparing to expand our aid immediately as soon as more goods are allowed into Gaza.
