Geneva - Gaza: Europe and the Arabs
Despite the long-term challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic, political instability and funding shortfalls, UNRWA continued to provide health care to Palestine refugees in its five areas of operation: Gaza, West Bank including East Jerusalem, Jordan, Lebanon and Syria. According to what was stated in the daily bulletin issued by the United Nations, and we received a copy of it, and it described that Dr. Akihiro Seita, Director of Health Services at UNRWA, spoke at a press conference at the United Nations headquarters in Geneva about the agency's annual health report.
"Last year, we were able to provide medical consultations to eight million people, including 90,000 pregnant women, and 300,000 people suffering from diabetes, high blood pressure and other non-communicable diseases," said Sita.
The number of medical consultations increased last year by 12.4% compared to 2021.
Of the 5.9 million Palestine refugees registered with the Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA), it is estimated that 3.2 million are registered with UNRWA health centers to receive free services.
During the past year, UNRWA health programs succeeded in fighting the resurgence of cholera in the Palestinian camps in Lebanon, and combating the Omicron mutant of the virus that causes Covid-19 disease. UNRWA centers in Gaza and the occupied West Bank also provided health care during hostilities.
About that, Dr. Sita said: "Last week, we witnessed an armed conflict in Gaza, and despite that, all the 22 health centers remained open and provided primary health care, and 50% of the staff kept working."
The UN official touched on other health issues, and expressed concern about the increase in gender-based violence. He also talked about the psychological and physical suffering of children, and the mental health care provided by UNRWA to them.
Mental health is one of UNRWA's health priorities. According to Dr. Sita, in 2021, 15,000 people needed psychosocial support, and the number has more than doubled over the past year, reaching 35,000.

The UN official said that this increase does not need an explanation, and added, "If you follow the news, and see what life is like in Gaza and the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, and life in Lebanon, Syria and some parts of Jordan, you will see how difficult life is."

It is estimated that 3.2 million people, or 53.9% of the Palestine refugees, are highly dependent on UNRWA services due to the difficult economic conditions, high unemployment rates, and increasing levels of poverty, especially in conflict areas.

About a third of registered Palestine refugees live in 58 official refugee camps, alongside host communities. UNRWA operates 240 health centers with more than 3,000 male and female employees who provide a comprehensive range of primary care.

Over more than seven decades of displacement, the number of Palestine refugees has increased from 750,000 in 1950 to 5.9 million in 2022. Over the years, UNRWA has remained committed to providing services in various fields to meet the needs of Palestine refugees in its areas of operations.