ABU DHABI — UAE humanitarian assistance and initiatives are contributing significantly in alleviating the suffering of the Palestinian people and improving their living conditions as they are facing critical humanitarian situation, Dr Hani Abdin, Palestinian Health Minister, has said. He praised during a visit to the Red Crescent Authority (RCA) the UAE as a key supporter and aid donor to Palestine.
At the RCA headquarters, Dr. Hani told RCA Chairman Ahmed Humaid Al Mazrouie that that the Palestinian health facilities were suffering from acute shortage of medicines, and other medical supplies and equipment.
He said that his ministry spent US$70 million to secure medicines but still facing shortage of 160 types of medicines. “We are seeking additional support from the RCA to the health sector in Palestine,” he said.
For his part, Al Mazrouie affirmed that humanitarian situation in Palestine tops the UAE leadership’s priorities.
The RCA, he said, would study the list of health needs presented by the health minister so as to meet them under its programmes targeting the Palestinian humanitarian scene.
In support of the Palestinian health sectors, the RCA has undertaken scores of health projects including the Shaikh Zayed Surgical Hospital in Ramallah, Shaikha Salama Eye Hospital in Nablus and Emirati-Jordanian Hospital in Ramallah in addition to delivery of tens of ambulances to Palestinian health facilities. “A number of proposed health programmes will be implemented in future,” he added.