Qatar Charity has implemented the second phase of a QR1.3mn project for hospitals in the Gaza Strip.

The project involves the supply of medical items to Palestinian health ministry warehouses in the Gaza Strip where they will be distributed among Gaza hospitals in order to meet the acute shortages.

The hospitals are under considerable strain with more than 10,000 wounded people in need of treatment as a result of the current aggression.

The latest report issued by the ministry of health at the end of July 2014 suggested that the hospitals are lacking 136 varieties of medicines, while less than three months’ worth of 76 varieties are available.

As many as 485 varieties of medical disposables are unavailable while 75 varieties are present in an amount that will last only between a month and three months. The ratio of deficit in the medicines is 28% and rises up to 54% in medical disposables.

“Through its Gaza Strip office, Qatar Charity has begun the delivery of the second batch of emergency medical relief that included 13 varieties of medicines to the ministry of health at a cost of around QR1.3mn,” said Ibrahim Zainal Mousa, director of the Gaza office and deputy executive director for International Development and Relief.

“Qatar Charity has been a pioneer in responding to the humanitarian duty in providing relief to the Palestinian people, working to stock medical stores from the beginning of the second week of the aggression on the Gaza Strip at a cost of around QR500,000,” Mousa added.

Further, Mousa said QC will continue to provide aid for the benefit of hospitals in the Gaza Strip, noting that this donation comes as part of the total emergency relief aid that was introduced during the period of aggression and amounted to QR7mn.

Mousa expressed his thanks and appreciation for all those who have donated to QC.

The departments of the ministry of health, especially the general directorate of pharmacy and general directorate of international co-operation, represented by Dr Ashraf Abu Mahadi and Dr Mohamed al-Kashif, thanked QC, the Qatar government and the people for their continued support for the Gaza Strip and its health institutions in these difficult times.

QC has also distributed QR2.555mn among 3,500 government employees working in 25 municipalities of the Gaza Strip in collaboration with the ministry of local government and mayors, providing a one-off payment of QR730 to each employee.