Occupied Palestinian territory
- The protracted crisis in the occupied Palestinian territory
- How the Canadian Red Cross and Palestine Red Crescent Society work together
- Donate to the Palestine Humanitarian Needs Appeal
The protracted crisis in the occupied Palestinian territory
(Photo credit: Palestine Red Crescent Society)
The occupied Palestinian territory, which encompasses the West Bank including East Jerusalem and the Gaza Strip, continues to experience a complex and protracted crisis.
The region has endured decades of conflict, causing acute humanitarian needs in the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, and the Gaza Strip. Frequent escalations of violence, movement restrictions, protection issues for women and girls, and a strained healthcare system are only some of the realities faced by communities. The Gaza population is facing a hunger crisis while struggling to meet their basic shelter, livelihood and economic needs.
Threats from natural weather events such as winter storms and floods also pose a challenge, especially for those who are internally displaced and living in camps with inadequate shelter and basic necessities.
The Red Cross Red Crescent Movement continues to call for the application of and adherence to international humanitarian law within the occupied Palestinian territory. The Red Cross Red Crescent Movement is responding to the ongoing conflict in Israel and Gaza.
How the Canadian Red Cross and Palestine Red Crescent Society work together
(Photo credit: Palestine Red Crescent Society)
The Canadian Red Cross recognizes the essential role of the Palestine Red Crescent Society as a local organization implementing lifesaving activities in the occupied Palestinian territory. Since 2014, the Palestine Red Crescent Society and the Canadian Red Cross have partnered to deliver emergency health and response services to affected populations, and to strengthen the Palestine Red Crescent Society’s ability to be prepared for and respond to emergencies.
With support from the Canadian Red Cross, the Palestine Red Crescent Society has:
- Pre-positioned and distributed relief items such as hygiene kits and dignity kits.
- Held an advanced training for members of the National Disaster Response Team.
- Establishing a Palestine Red Crescent ambulance dispatch and Emergency Operations Centre.
- Held a refresher training for Emergency Medical Teams, and developed an Emergency Medical Services (EMS) standard operating protocol.
- Equipped EMS stations with solar systems.
- Provided mental health and psychosocial support for communities, staff and volunteers.
- Procured medical supplies and equipment, including mobile clinics and ambulances.
- Provided hearing aids and assistive devices for physical rehabilitation.
- Established Community Action Committees for locally led emergency response and first aid.
- Scaled up emergency support during escalations of violence and conflict.
The Palestine Red Crescent Society is committed to continue providing these critical services and more to meet urgent humanitarian needs of affected people, and the Canadian Red Cross is committed to supporting them in this vital work.
Donate to the Palestine Humanitarian Needs Appeal
The Canadian Red Cross is supporting Red Cross and Red Crescent efforts to alleviate suffering and provide humanitarian assistance in the occupied Palestinian Territories. This includes emergency medical services, the provision of essential health services, relief supplies, support for people with disabilities and other priority humanitarian efforts with evolving needs. The Canadian Red Cross has a long-term partnership with the Palestine Red Crescent Society and are supporting the response to this protracted crisis.
Donate to this appeal now