Interpal Vice-Chair’s visit to Gaza: “Everyone is on the brink”

Published: February 18, 2019 | Our Blogs

On 4 February, Interpal’s Vice Chairman Dr. Essam Yousef arrived in the besieged Gaza Strip, as part of the “Miles of Smiles” convoy, to provide urgent humanitarian aid to Palestinians and meet with Interpal’s field staff.

“The journey in and out of Gaza was very long and arduous” he told us. “Everyone has a story and speaks of their difficulties, everyone is on the brink. The quality of life is not at the standard it should be.”

His words come in the wake of the UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres’ recent warning that the humanitarian crisis in Gaza must be “immediately addressed,” with two million Palestinians “mired in increasing poverty and unemployment, with no access to adequate health, education, water and electricity.”

Dr. Yousef highlighted the difficulties facing charitable organisations in providing the most vulnerable and marginalised groups in society with urgent humanitarian aid. While thousands of families are in urgent need of help, many vulnerable individuals who cannot easily access support are being left behind. “The resilience is still there,” Dr. Yousef told us, “but people are now very vocal about how they are struggling.’

The convoy was able to deliver much needed aid from Egypt, including fuel and medicine.

Take a look at our latest pictures from the visit and learn more about the vital Interpal projects that Dr. Yousef visited during his trip.

: Dr. Yousef visited the Sanabel School for Special Education, where Interpal contributes to teachers’ salaries and provides educational materials for students.

: At the Islamic University of Gaza, Dr. Yousef spoke about the educational needs of students. Interpal has implemented various projects at the university, which include equipping the engineering and science laboratories as well as the university’s dental unit. Students have also benefitted from Interpal’s Job Creation Programme and training as part of the charity’s Developing Clinic Skills Laboratories project at the Hayat Center-IUG.

: Dr. Yousef visited Dar Al Salam Hospital in Khan Younis and discussed the increasing number of patients who are benefiting from the various Interpal projects carried out at the hospital. Interpal has recently provided the hospital with medicines and medical disposables, an X-ray machine, an Echo Doppler machine and more.

: Dr. Yousef also visited UNRWA’s Rehabilitation Centre for the Visually Impaired. In 2017, Interpal implemented the Vision Project with UNRWA at the centre. This project provided visually impaired students with cutting-edge digital technology to help them access information sources, learning opportunities and creative initiatives. Interpal also provided this centre with solar panels and other essential supplies.