Dear Supporter,
Welcome to our May 2020 Newsletter, keeping you updated on our vital work.We hope you are successfully navigating all the challenges of the Covid-19 lockdown and staying safe. Thank you for your generous support of our emergency appeals during this time.At the end of February 2020 WA put plans in motion in Palestine and Lebanon to increase local community preparedness, contain the spread of the virus, and support the most vulnerable families.WA Covid-19 Emergency Activities in Palestine and Lebanon include the following:-Increasing preparedness:
-Containment:
-Support for vulnerable families in lockdownSupporting already vulnerable families, now made even more vulnerable in lockdown. In Gaza:
In Lebanon:
WA is providing weekly updates on the Covid-19 stats in Palestine at the start of every week on our WA social media accounts: Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. Latest stats posted:18th May 2020:
Covid-19 Palestine Emergency Appeal
Al Makassed Islamic Charitable Hospital Society is the largest Arab hospital in East Jerusalem, with 250 beds, and 80 ICU beds including 16 paediatric beds.
It is considered the primary referral hospital for the Palestinian Ministry of Health for tertiary care services, including paediatric critical and surgical care. It is also now a referral centre for Covid-19 patients in Palestine.
Welfare Association has regularly supported Makassed hospital throughout the last two decades. This latest project will increase the ICU capacity of Makassed Hospital through the provision of several new ventilators, patient beds, and other technical equipment.
In Lebanon, the first case of COVID-19 was recorded on 21st February 2020. By 4th May 2020 the number of people diagnosed with COVID-19 rose to 737, with 25 deaths. On 16th March 2020 the Government of Lebanon announced a state of emergency and called on everyone to stay home, with the closure of public spaces, restaurants and shops. The 18th March, saw the closure of the airport for all commercial flights, the port, as well as closure of the border with Syria.Since October 2019, the country has been in turmoil, politically and financially and further contraction in the economy is foreseen. Inflation rates have spiked, the Lebanese Pound lost 30-50% of its value pre Covid-19, resulting in a reduction in purchasing power. Unemployment rates are rising with estimates that more than 200,000 have lost their jobs, while many more are paid half-salaries or less.The Palestinian refugees in Lebanon (PRL) and Palestinian refugees from Syria (PRS) were already among the most vulnerable groups even before the onset of the economic crisis. Two thirds of the Palestinians in Lebanon live in poverty and the jobs of one in three employed Palestinian refugees is insecure, working as daily, weekly or temporary labourers.During Covid-19 WA has been working to provide hundreds of families living in deep poverty with vouchers to exchange in prequalified shops for key food and hygiene items. The aim is to help these families survive the “lockdown” period and the risks imposed by COVID-19, as well as the interruption of work and loss of income. The vouchers, will cover the key needs of each family for a period of 8 weeks. Vouchers are being provided to more than 700 of the most vulnerable families in Rashidieh Refugee Camp in South Lebanon. ------------------------------------------ Please help us to continue this work and support our latest emergency appeal by clicking hereThank you for your generous support!
Please help us to provide families with warm blankets, winter clothes and Covid-19 hygiene kits to protect them from winter illnesses and coronavirus.
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