Since the conflict in Gaza began on October 7, 2023, more than 2.3 million civilians in the besieged enclave, including 1 million children, have been subjected to relentless bombardment, forced displacement, psychological trauma, and a complete or partial blockade of humanitarian aid, including food, safe water, fuel, electricity, medicine, and other life-sustaining support.
Since the conflict began, more than one year ago, more than 41,870 people in Gaza have been killed and 97,166 people have been injured, the majority of them women and children. More than 1.9 million people have been displaced from their homes, and as humanitarian conditions deteriorate by the day, 1.1 million people are projected to face catastrophic levels of food insecurity. More than 57% of water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) facilities have been damaged or destroyed, more than half of Gaza’s hospitals have been damaged and are no longer operational, and 80% of primary healthcare centers are no longer functional. The medical sector in Gaza is completely overwhelmed, both hospitals and healthcare workers are targets of violence, and the lack of access to food, water, and supplies is compounding the risks of patients even with treatable injuries.
Hospitals or medical facilities in Gaza that are still functioning continue to face serious shortages of electricity/fuel, medications, medical equipment, food, and medical personnel, due to restrictions on aid entering and moving freely and safely around Gaza, significantly compromising the provision of essential healthcare and leaving doctors to perform amputations and other complex surgeries without sufficient pain medication or anesthesia. Under the constant threat of bombardment and crippling shortages of essential medical supplies, Gaza’s brave healthcare workers face unprecedented challenges to provide medical care to thousands of injured civilians., while also coping with unrelenting psychological stress, exhaustion, and the traumatic death or injury of family members.. So far, more than 1,151 healthcare workers have lost their lives in Gaza.
Since the very beginning of the crisis in Gaza, SAMS began working to relieve the suffering of vulnerable civilians, delivering crucial medical and humanitarian support, while also participating in medical missions, partnering with other NGOs, and advocating for the protection of civilians and healthcare personnel and facilities. Below is a preliminary summary of SAMS’ relief efforts in Gaza:
Emergency Medical Response
- We partnered with the Palestine Medical Relief Society (PMRS) to deploy three mobile medical units in north and south Gaza, where their focus will be on providing medical care to women, children, and youth. Each mobile medical unit will include a general practitioner doctor (GP), an OB-GYN, a midwife, a social worker, and a nurse.
- We partnered with Palestinian American Medical Association (PAMA) to deliver $50,000 worth of medical supplies to Gaza in October 2023
- We coordinated with Palestine Children’s Relief Fund (PCRF) to provide $25,000 for emergency response needs in October 2023.
- We allocated $100,000 for collaboration with American Near East Refugee Aid (ANERA) in the procurement and delivery of medications and supplies to Gaza via designated flights from Jordan.
- We partnered with the Mersal Foundation to deliver $50,000 for medical supply shipment from Egypt..
- SAMS leadership traveled to Cairo and attended meetings with the representatives from the World Food Programme (WFP), the World Health Organization (WHO), the Egyptian Red Crescent, selected embassies, and local organizations working under the Egyptian National Alliance, the main Egyptian body responsible for relief coordination.
- We contributed $100,000 in emergency financial assistance to 135 medical students from Gaza studying in Turkey and left with no means of support.
Humanitarian Aid Distribution
- We worked with United Palestinian Appeal (UPA) to deliver $100,000 worth of food and clothing to internally displaced families (December 2023 – February 2024). These food parcels helped meet the nutrition needs of 6,327 people and clothing packages benefited 2,850 individuals.
- We coordinated with UPA to distribute 1,542 food parcels in Mawasi Khan Younis, in addition to 1,050 family size hot meals during the month of Ramadan 2024 meals in Ramadan 2024.
Medical Missions
- We joined the Palestinian American Medical Association (PAMA) and the Jordanian American Physicians Association (JAPA) to organize and lead medical missions teams to Gaza to provide urgently needed and specialized medical services.
- The first combined mission was launched in March 2024 with a team of 10 doctors and nurses who performed 300 consultations and 50 complex surgeries over a two-week period. SAMS doctors provided specialized care in trauma surgery, vascular surgery, and ENT/Facial reconstruction.
- SAMS is also participating in multispecialty missions in May and June 2024, and contributing to the needed medications, equipment and supplies carried by the volunteers to the hosting medical facilities.
- We are planning capacity building programs for local healthcare workers in collaboration with sister organizations like PAMA, with the aim of enhancing skills in emergency care and trauma management.
- We continue to advocate for the protection of civilians, healthcare workers, and healthcare facilities and encourage all parties to adhere to International Humanitarian Law. Read SAMS’ press release: SAMS_Critical Situation of Medical Sector in Gaza and watch this interview
Today, we ask you to join SAMS’ life-saving relief efforts in Gaza. Your tax-deductible donation will help us deliver medical support and humanitarian aid to families and children in dire need. Donate today and help bring these brave and resilient people the hope of a brighter tomorrow.
