MoSD and the Palestinian Red Crescent: Joint Support for Rehabilitation and Emergency Response Services

Ramallah – Thursday, May 15, 2025 – Minister of Social Development and Acting Minister of State for Relief Affairs, Dr. Samah Hamad, conducted an official visit to the headquarters of the Palestinian Red Crescent Society (PRCS) in Al-Bireh. She was received by PRCS President Dr. Younis Al-Khatib, Director General Mr. Khaled Yaqub Haidar Abu Ghoush, and a number of professionals specialized in rehabilitation and community services.

The two parties discussed ways to strengthen joint coordination in emergency and humanitarian response, particularly in light of the worsening living conditions in Gaza and the ongoing military incursions in the West Bank.

Dr. Hamad received a comprehensive briefing from the PRCS team on the current health and humanitarian interventions in both the West Bank and Gaza. Despite operating under extremely difficult conditions, PRCS continues to provide critical services. In Gaza, the society runs two hospitals (Al-Amal in Khan Younis and Al-Quds in Gaza City), in addition to two field hospitals, around 20 medical points, and five primary care clinics. However, PRCS teams are facing severe challenges due to the shortage of fuel and medical supplies, currently operating at one-third of their ambulance fleet’s capacity.

In the West Bank, PRCS provides emergency medical and humanitarian services during repeated incursions and violations. Their teams help evacuate besieged families, provide first aid to the injured, and distribute relief aid in Jenin and Tulkarem refugee camps, in coordination with partners. PRCS personnel are frequently exposed to attacks and Israeli-imposed restrictions while carrying out their humanitarian duties.

Dr. Younis Al-Khatib, PRCS President, emphasized the importance of the partnership with the Ministry of Social Development and its role in strengthening the resilience of marginalized groups in Palestinian society. He reaffirmed the Society’s readiness to support all governmental programs amid escalating challenges.

Dr. Hamad commended PRCS for its leading role and continued collaboration with government institutions. She stressed the importance of unifying efforts to deliver an integrated emergency response, particularly in Gaza, which is witnessing a severe humanitarian collapse due to the ongoing closure and obstruction of humanitarian aid entry.

At the conclusion of the visit, a new cooperation agreement was signed between the Ministry of Social Development and the Palestinian Red Crescent Society, aimed at supporting and expanding day rehabilitation services and autism spectrum care for persons with disabilities, serving 60 cases per month. Services covered include psychosocial rehabilitation, physical and occupational therapy, and speech therapy.

Dr. Hamad affirmed that the agreement aligns with the government’s efforts to protect marginalized and affected groups, and to enhance psychosocial support interventions during emergencies. She emphasized that the government is committed to providing dignified shelter solutions for displaced families, favoring rental options out of respect for citizens’ dignity, while working on reconstruction proposals to be presented to international partners and donors.

Dr. Al-Khatib stated that this step reflects the Society’s continued commitment to the most vulnerable groups, particularly persons with disabilities, and complements PRCS’s broader role through its network of rehabilitation centers across the West Bank and Gaza, which provide comprehensive care and rehabilitation services.