Gaza: Over a quarter of UNRWA centre patients needing mental health support

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That is the best fee of psychological well being want ever recorded, throughout UNRWA’s medical system.

UNRWA’s well being programmes assist some two million Palestine refugees throughout Jordan, Lebanon, the occupied Palestinian territory composed of the West Financial institution, together with East Jerusalem and Gaza, in addition to in Syria.

Immensely difficult 12 months

Chatting with reporters in Geneva, Dr. Akihiro Seita, UNRWA’s Director of Well being, highlighted the “immense challenges” confronted by the company’s well being programmes previously 12 months: along with the COVID-19 pandemic, he listed the devastating cholera outbreak in Syria and Lebanon, regional turbulence and UNRWA’s ongoing funding disaster.

He pressured that UNRWA well being centres in Gaza and the occupied West Financial institution proceed to supply very important healthcare amid hostilities.

Eight million seen

Final 12 months, the UN company managed to supply round eight million medical consultations.

That features round 300,000 individuals dwelling with diabetes and hypertension or non-communicable ailments and in addition 90,000 pregnant moms”, mentioned Dr. Seita.

Out of the 5.9 million registered Palestine refugees, it’s estimated that 3.2 million are registered at UNRWA centres, and obtain well being companies freed from cost. The variety of consultations elevated by 12.4 % in comparison with 2021.

In 2022, UNRWA’s well being programmes efficiently combated a resurgence of cholera within the refugee camps in Lebanon, along with the extremely infectious Omicron pressure of COVID-19.

Moreover, UNRWA well being centres in Gaza and the occupied West Financial institution supplied very important well being care amid the on-going hostilities.

Airstrikes, violence continues

“Final week, we had armed battle in Gaza however nonetheless all 22 well being centres stayed open and supplied crucial main healthcare service and fifty % of the workers continued to attend,” emphasised Dr. Seita.

At present, it’s estimated that 3.2 million or 53.9 per cent of Palestinian refugees nonetheless closely depend on UNRWA companies on account of financial hardship, excessive unemployment charges, and worsening poverty ranges, particularly in battle areas.

Round a 3rd of registered Palestinian refugees reside in 58 official refugee camps, dwelling side-by-side amongst host nations’ communities.

A Palestine refugee from Lebanon  receives medical care at an UNRWA-supported health centre.

A Palestine refugee from Lebanon receives medical care at an UNRWA-supported well being centre.

Gender-based violence rising

UNRWA manages 240 well being facilities with greater than 3,000 workers that present a complete vary of main healthcare.

“Gender-based violence can be on the rise. That’s our foremost concern and fear”, mentioned Dr. Seita. “On the similar time, kids are struggling not solely mentally, but in addition bodily.”

Psychological well being is one other of UNRWA’s well being priorities. Based on Dr. Seita, sufferers in Gaza have the best detection fee at 26.4 per cent. In 2021, round 15,000 individuals wanted psychosocial assist.

Over the span of seven a long time of displacement, the variety of Palestine refugees has elevated from 750,000 in 1950, to five.9 million in 2022.

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