Committees

Healthcare situation in Gaza: IDC update from UNWRA, Medical Aid for Palestinians and the Palestinian Red Crescent Society

8 January 2024

In November 2023 the Committee heard evidence from UNRWA, Medical Aid for Palestinians, the Norwegian Refugee Council and Human Rights Watch which painted a picture of the already wide-ranging humanitarian concerns including high numbers of civilian casualties, destruction of health, sanitation and communications infrastructure and extreme and growing levels of internal displacement.

At that point the Committee heard that hospitals were under siege, doctors were unable to treat patients, medical equipment stores were running low and potentially devastating diseases were beginning to take hold. The situation now is increasingly described as catastrophic, with fears of widespread famine.

On Tuesday the Committee will seek an urgent update on the humanitarian and health situation in Gaza, how the healthcare situation has changed in the last six weeks and what those on the ground are doing to respond.

On Tuesday 9 January at 2:30pm:

  • Dr Ghada Al Jadba, Chief of Health in Gaza, United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestinian Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA)
  • Rohan Talbot, Director of Advocacy and Campaigns, Medical Aid for Palestinians
  • Nebal Farsakh Spokesperson at Palestinian Red Crescent Society

Further information

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