As the world waits in hope for an end to the conflict and a permanent cessation of violence across the region, health needs in Gaza are growing due to the cold, with more than 945,0000 people are at risk of exposure to the cold, and babies and children dying as temperatures drop.

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IHP is working through partners including Anera, International Medical Corps and Project HOPE to provide essential medicines and medical supplies to treat and manage a range of health needs from complex trauma injuries to long-term health conditions.

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We are delighted to have received a donation to our work in the Middle East from our Patron, His Majesty King Charles III, who has remained a steadfast and dedicated supporter of IHP for nearly 20 years.

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It is with the generosity of His Majesty, the Disasters Emergency Committee, Tearfund and the general public that we have been able to support over 850,000 people across the Middle East, since October 2023.

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Winter in Gaza

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Over the past ten years, IHP have partnered with Anera to deliver essential healthcare to over 1.5 million patients across Gaza, but the medical needs continue to be overwhelming.

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Ahmad Najjar is a Medical Donations Programme Coordinator and Pharmacist at Anera in Gaza, who we are partnering with. He has been running wound and primary care clinics in the worst-hit areas, treating thousands of patients every day.  

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He says, “I feel that there is a meaning to my life by serving my people here in Gaza, by providing services for the people who are really destroyed, destroyed across every part of their life. They are living in a catastrophic situation."

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“I leave my family for more than 12 hours per day providing aid and health services for people. I know that even serving people for a whole day, this will not be enough.”

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This winter, conditions are deteriorating. Temperatures in the Gaza are reaching lows of  6 degrees Celsius, compared to average summer temperatures of 29 degrees. More than one million Palestinians across Gaza have been reported to have lost their homes (NRC) with only temporary shelters such as tarpaulins to provide protection from the elements.

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Heavy rainfall and severely damaged infrastructure has left thousands vulnerable to damp, muddy and wet living conditions. Overcrowding within shelters and camps creates an increased risk of diseases and infections spreading, such as flu and pneumonia. The UN estimates 44% of people in Gaza are unable to cope with the effect of winter and stocks of even the most basic protection from the cold are running low.

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As communities struggle to keep warm, the risk of respiratory-related illnesses is particularly prevalent due to the burning of materials, which release harmful toxins. There is also a rise in the exacerbation of pre-existing health conditions such as asthma and eczema, hypertension and diabetes. Alongside this, a rise in infections due to poor sanitation is commonplace.

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Ahmad shared the struggle of supporting patients as conditions worsen:

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“The main problem patients are complaining about is lack of hygiene and clean water. Most of the injuries and wounds that come to our clinic are now infected.   Patients with chronic diseases like hypertension are not receiving their medications.  Most of the hospitals are destroyed in Gaza. We have only a few hospitals operating. Our clinic is like a shelter, we are providing our services using cover sheets and a basic structure.”

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IHP provides regular shipments through established routes containing essential antibiotics, analgesics, antifungal medication, syringes and wound dressings. This is together with multivitamins, diabetes and hypertension medication and a range of specialist trauma treatments.

In the past 15 months, we have been able to support over 500,000 people in Gaza alone, through life-saving primary care, supporting clinics such as Ahmad’s, as well as providing treatment for long-term conditions. Our work has been especially bolstered by funding from the Disasters Emergency Committee through our partnership with Tearfund.

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A further 11 shipments are scheduled in the coming months, which will support our work in wound and primary healthcare clinics across Gaza, West Bank and Lebanon.

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“The only thing that makes me happy, is when I see one old man and woman smiling because they finally found their treatment. They finally found a doctor to ask them about their health condition. They are finally being helped. It really means a lot to me, it means the world to me.” - Ahmad Najjar

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