Ramallah:Japan has provided a grant of US$1.97 million to enhance the health response in the Gaza Strip. The World Health Organization (WHO) and the Government of Japan formalized the agreement, which amounts to 294 million Japanese yen, in a ceremony held in Ramallah. Present at the event were Katsuhiko Araiqi, Ambassador for Palestinian Affairs and Representative of Japan to Palestine, and Reinhilde van de Werdt, WHO Representative in the Occupied Palestinian Territory.
According to Maan News Agency, the grant arrives at a critical time as Gaza's health system is under severe strain due to workforce shortages and a growing demand for specialized medical services. The funding aims to bolster the coordination of emergency medical teams and aid in transitioning to a nationally directed emergency health response.
A significant component of the grant is the creation of an Emergency Medical Teams (EMT) coordination unit within the Emergency Operations Center in Gaza City. To support these efforts, 30 health sector officials and partners will receive training on managing and coordinating emergency medical teams. This includes developing standard operating procedures, practical guidelines, and data management systems to assist in team registration and the monitoring of medical activities, thereby aiding operational decision-making and recovery planning.
Additionally, the grant will fund the training and equipping of 100 national personnel in emergency medical teams, providing the necessary equipment for field deployment. This initiative aims to enhance Gaza's capacity to mobilize local medical teams for future emergencies.
Ambassador Araiqi emphasized the importance of addressing the extensive needs of the Palestinian people, which go beyond immediate humanitarian relief to include rebuilding infrastructure and strengthening public institutions. He expressed hope that Japan's contribution, in collaboration with WHO, will improve access to basic health services for Palestinians and alleviate their daily challenges.
Van de Werdt highlighted the resilience of Gaza's health system since 2023 and underscored the project's goal of ensuring continued capability in the region. She noted that strengthening the Ministry of Health's capacity to coordinate and deploy emergency medical teams will contribute to nationally led, well-organized, and reliable emergency responses in the future.