‍

IHP has long-term programmes in Gaza, the West Bank and Lebanon for over a decade. Since the escalation of the conflict in October 2023, IHP has upscaled its response to reach over 600,000 patients with 18 shipments.

Here are five insights into the burgeoning crisis across the Middle East:

‍

1. Essential supplies are running out

In Gaza, Lebanon and the West Bank, humanitarian aid, including medical supplies and food, face significant barriers in reaching those in need. Delays and impediments at checkpoints severely hamper efforts to distribute aid to those who need it, and once goods do gain entry to Gaza, attacks on aid workers and facilities are a constant threat. The lack of essential medical supplies getting into Gaza and the West Bank drastically limits stock in the few health centres still operational, further hampering the ability to provide adequate healthcare to patients with desperate chronic conditions.

‍

‍‍

‍

2. Hospitals are overwhelmed‍

Many hospitals and health facilities in Gaza especially have been severely damaged or destroyed due to the conflict. Just 17 of Gaza's 36 hospitals are still operational, and none of these are functioning fully, leading to inadequate access to healthcare for the population. This has significantly reduced the capacity to provide emergency care, maternity services, and other critical health clinics.

3. Infectious diseases are spreading

More than 8,000 children have been diagnosed with malnutrition, according to the United Nations. The ongoing conflict has disrupted food supplies, pushing thousands towards a potential famine. The destruction of infrastructure, overcrowding in shelters and the rise of malnutrition cases have heightened the risk of the spread of infectious diseases. Limited access to clean water and sanitation facilities has further compounded this issue, increasing the prevalence of diseases such as diarrhoea and respiratory infections.

‍

4. It's not just physical health at stake

‍People are trapped amid an ongoing conflict with no end in sight. Prolonged and repetitive exposure to traumatic events severely impacts the mental health of the population. UNICEF reports that nearly all of Gaza's 1.2 million children urgently need mental health support, and 70% of adults are battling depression according to the World Bank. Mental health services are severely limited and yet an overwhelming proportion of the population in need of psychosocial support due to the trauma of conflict.

‍

‍

5. Healthcare in the West Bank and Lebanon continues to deteriorate

Access in and out of the West Bank is severely restricted. Most checkpoints across the West Bank remain closed, limiting people's movements and affecting their ability to access basic services, including medical care. In Lebanon, communities are facing critically limited medicine and supplies. The conflict has led to the destruction of key infrastructure, including health facilities and a depletion in the healthcare workforce. Local health centres, which are already at capacity, face increasing pressure as they contend with the growing medical needs of displaced people.

How is IHP helping?

IHP is proud to partner with Tearfund (a DEC member organisation) as their implementing partner for Gaza, ensuring that funds raised will continue to bring vital medical supplies to those who need it most. Tearfund's support of IHP will ensure a wide range of medications and supplies- from primary healthcare like antibiotics and antifungals, to more specialised products including mental health products and wound dressings for complex injuries - can reach people who need assistance urgently.

Find out more about the DEC appeal here.

‍

Our shipments include:

• Mental health medication  

• Antibiotics and pain relief medication

• Medical supplies such as insulin needles, syringes, IV fluids and wound dressings

• Water purification tablets

• Medicines for chronic health conditions, including heart disease and diabetes

In Gaza

IHP medicines have been utilised by our partner Anera as part of their free medical days, at their wound clinics and more recently, at the opening of a dedicated non-communicable disease clinic in Khan Younis. People living with chronic conditions like heart disease and diabetes are particularly at risk to disruptions in their treatment so ensuring sustained access to medication is vital. IHP have sent six shipments to help support almost 500,000 people.

‍

‍

In Lebanon

IHP has shipped medication to support over 68,000 people. Shipments included over £3 million worth of cancer medicines, supporting 868 patients who are undergoing ongoing treatment and mental health medicine for over 4,500 people. Patients just like Malek’s sister, whose family faced a desperate search to find the medicines she needed. READ THEIR STORY HERE

‍

In the West Bank

IHP have sent four shipments of essential medicines and medical supplies in partnership with Anera. These shipments are supporting over 140,000 patients.

‍

‍

‍

With the increasing scale of the crisis across the region, we continue to respond to urgent medical needs and have further shipments in development that will support more than hundreds of thousands of patients over the coming months.  

‍

We are working tirelessly to source and send more medicines to meet the growing needs. We urgently need your support to continue this life-saving work. Will you help us bring hope and better access to health to those affected by this crisis?

‍