Ramallah - January 12, 2009 - Welfare Association (WA) succeeded in responding to the immediate emergency needs of 16 hospitals and Health Centers in the Gaza Strip operated by various Palestinian non-governmental organizations. Under an agreement exceeding $220,000 in value, all 16 hospitals and health clinics were provided with fuel necessary to operate their generators and ambulances for a period of one month. In addition, the hospitals and centers were provided with beds as well as a broad range of general and specialized medical equipment.

In addition, and through $137,000 funding from Salam Ya Sghar Fund in Sharja / UAE and Welfare Association, food packages were distributed to over 3,000 needy families most affected by the ongoing war.

Both of the above interventions constitute a part of Welfare Associations plan to respond to the humanitarian crises in Gaza in which more than 880 persons (of whom 275 are children and 93 are women) have been killed and more than 3,800 persons injured, including 413 critically injured.

Welfare Association launched an appeal on January 6, 2009, to raise funds to meet needs arising from the Israeli military attack on Gaza begun December 27 and still ongoing. The Appeal is raising funds for:

A) Supporting emergency programs to be implemented immediately and after the stopping of the Israeli aggression. These programs will be implemented within a period of 5 months with a total budget of $2.0 million as follows: Securing urgently needed medicine and medical supplies to hospitals and clinics; Securing beds and other vital requirements to hospitals and clinics; Securing fuel for hospitals, clinics, and relief agencies; Repair and emergency closure of doors and windows shattered from the bombardment and fighting; Securing food through the distribution of food packages, and; Provision of blankets and other material to protect from the cold winter.

B) Supporting medium-term programs to be implemented over 12 months with a budget of $3.0 million as follows: Providing holistic care to 2,000 children through the provision of food, clothes, medical care, and psycho-social support for the children most in need with a budget of $1.0 million, and; Contributing to the equipping of hospitals and rehabilitation clinics with a budget of $2.0 million.

Welfare Association is a private, non-profit foundation established in Geneva in 1983 to support Palestinian society in sustainable development. As a pioneering development Palestinian organization, WA dedicates its work to provide a unique contribution to support development efforts of Palestinians, help preserve their heritage and identity, support their living culture and develop their civil society.