By Kelsey Lemon, Vice-President, International Cooperation
I’ve just returned from a trip to West Bank to speak with colleagues from the Palestine Red Crescent Society (PRCS). Despite the difficult circumstances the teams in West Bank and Gaza face every day, the staff and volunteers at PRCS remain incredibly committed to their humanitarian objectives.
Photo: Angela Hill / Canadian Red Cross
During a visit to the medical point in Alfara’a Camp, West Bank, I spoke with several young women who volunteer to provide emergency medical care as well as outreach, visiting older adults, pregnant women, new mothers, and those with chronic diseases.
“I love humanitarian work,” 24-year-old Yasmeen Qasem said. She has been volunteering with PRCS for one year.
Yasmeen said she joined PRCS when she realized the importance of knowing first aid, after seeing cases of people who were injured, but due to access challenges, could not be transported for medical care. She trained alongside others as a first responder to work at the medical post in the camp.
“When our people need us, we leave everything to be able to help,” she said, showing up to help multiple times a week. The volunteers also deliver food parcels, medicines, and other emergency supplies to people trapped in their homes during military action that prevents the population’s movement through checkpoints.
The Canadian Red Cross is pleased to support the work of PRCS with their emergency response and community-based services.
Photo: Angela Hill / Canadian Red Cross
To help access hard-to-reach areas, the Canadian Red Cross provided mini ambulances, and 4x4 quad vehicles to be used to access all people in need.
Despite incredibly difficult circumstances, PRCS staff and volunteers are professional and well trained, they think creatively looking for solutions to ensure they can provide the support needed by communities. They are uniquely positioned and are the only organization that can provide the level of support they do in West Bank and Gaza.
Ahmad has been with PRCS for 18 years, working as a paramedic and first aid trainer.
At times, movement restrictions can make it nearly impossible to get ambulances and medical assistance to where they are needed.
“Sometimes we cannot send the ambulance to the city or the town or the village. If we can’t send the ambulance, we try to manage and treat the case on the phone,” Ahmad explains.
Recently he helped a woman’s family deliver her baby because she couldn’t leave the community to seek medical care.
“We must be creative all the time. This job makes you creative.”
Photo: Angela Hill / Canadian Red Cross
As a first responder trainer, Ahmad has been working with community members to be able to help each other. In one case, a volunteer trained by Ahmad was able to provide CPR until the ambulance he dispatched could arrive.
This work is difficult and tiring, he said, “but sometimes … if you do a good thing, if you can help the people, it’s something great.”
These projects are supported by the Government of Canada and help to meet the urgent needs of people in West Bank and Gaza affected by the violence that has escalated since October 7, 2023.
To learn more about how the Canadian Red Cross is supporting, visit: Middle East Humanitarian Crisis.
I’ve just returned from a trip to West Bank to speak with colleagues from the Palestine Red Crescent Society (PRCS). Despite the difficult circumstances the teams in West Bank and Gaza face every day, the staff and volunteers at PRCS remain incredibly committed to their humanitarian objectives.
Photo: Angela Hill / Canadian Red Cross
Palestine Red Crescent Society Volunteers Provide Emergency Medical Care
During a visit to the medical point in Alfara’a Camp, West Bank, I spoke with several young women who volunteer to provide emergency medical care as well as outreach, visiting older adults, pregnant women, new mothers, and those with chronic diseases. “I love humanitarian work,” 24-year-old Yasmeen Qasem said. She has been volunteering with PRCS for one year.
Yasmeen said she joined PRCS when she realized the importance of knowing first aid, after seeing cases of people who were injured, but due to access challenges, could not be transported for medical care. She trained alongside others as a first responder to work at the medical post in the camp.
“When our people need us, we leave everything to be able to help,” she said, showing up to help multiple times a week. The volunteers also deliver food parcels, medicines, and other emergency supplies to people trapped in their homes during military action that prevents the population’s movement through checkpoints.
Meeting Urgent Needs in Hard-to-Access Areas in the Occupied Palestinian Territory
At the medical point in Tammoun Village, which is set up in a tent, we learned how PRCS staff and volunteers at this site are the only medical care in the area. Without them people would not be able to seek help as transportation to other cities is hard to access. While we were there, five-month-old Tabarak Basharat came in for a check-up with Dr. Omri Bani Odeh, a volunteer with PRCS.The Canadian Red Cross is pleased to support the work of PRCS with their emergency response and community-based services.
Photo: Angela Hill / Canadian Red Cross
To help access hard-to-reach areas, the Canadian Red Cross provided mini ambulances, and 4x4 quad vehicles to be used to access all people in need.
Despite incredibly difficult circumstances, PRCS staff and volunteers are professional and well trained, they think creatively looking for solutions to ensure they can provide the support needed by communities. They are uniquely positioned and are the only organization that can provide the level of support they do in West Bank and Gaza.
Responding to Emergencies in the West Bank and Gaza
In the PRCS Emergency Call Centre in Ramallah, which the Canadian Red Cross and Government of Canada funded to open, Ahmad Harashe takes calls and dispatches ambulances for emergencies in West Bank and Gaza.Ahmad has been with PRCS for 18 years, working as a paramedic and first aid trainer.
At times, movement restrictions can make it nearly impossible to get ambulances and medical assistance to where they are needed.
“Sometimes we cannot send the ambulance to the city or the town or the village. If we can’t send the ambulance, we try to manage and treat the case on the phone,” Ahmad explains.
Recently he helped a woman’s family deliver her baby because she couldn’t leave the community to seek medical care.
“We must be creative all the time. This job makes you creative.”
Photo: Angela Hill / Canadian Red Cross
As a first responder trainer, Ahmad has been working with community members to be able to help each other. In one case, a volunteer trained by Ahmad was able to provide CPR until the ambulance he dispatched could arrive.
This work is difficult and tiring, he said, “but sometimes … if you do a good thing, if you can help the people, it’s something great.”
These projects are supported by the Government of Canada and help to meet the urgent needs of people in West Bank and Gaza affected by the violence that has escalated since October 7, 2023.
To learn more about how the Canadian Red Cross is supporting, visit: Middle East Humanitarian Crisis.
