24 December 2024
As the Gaza Director of Medical Aid for Palestinians (MAP), and as a Palestinian, my experience of this last year has been unbearably painful. I never imagined that what has happened in Gaza could have ever occurred anywhere in the world. Nor for it to continue happening over the last 14 months, with the world watching on and not doing anything near enough to help.
Israel’s siege and military bombardment of Gaza means that people are living through unimaginable suffering. Every day, people are being killed by attacks or dying because they lack basic and essential supplies such as food, medical care and water. There is no place in Gaza where people are free from being targeted, injured or killed by the Israeli military. Palestinians in Gaza, and beyond, feel that they have been left alone and let down by the international community.
Though I am hugely disappointed in the international community, I am immensely proud of the impact our work at MAP has achieved. Despite all the challenges, we have remained in Gaza to provide our support to people in desperate need. And you, our supporters, have stood by us to enable this, and show solidarity with the Palestinian people.
I am proud of what we have accomplished – expanding not only our local team but also the reach and impact of our work. It is a challenge to capture all the amazing work my team has achieved in this short message. From MAP’s medical points, to our water, nutrition and sanitation projects, aid delivery and work to support mental health services, people with disabilities and women and girls – our staff and partners have supported hundreds of thousands of people in Gaza to have access to healthcare, shelter, food and dignity.
I am also incredibly proud of the work we have done to support hospitals and the healthcare system in Gaza, which has been systematically destroyed by the Israeli military. We have helped to renovate Nasser and Shifa Hospitals after they were invaded and left non-functional. We have provided cancer services at the European Gaza Hospital, and, until the latest invasion in the north, we were able to provide support to Kamal Adwan Hospital and now are helping the Patient’s Friends Benevolent Society Hospital in Gaza City.
Finally, I am particularly proud of our ‘Solidarity Polyclinic’, a specialised care facility which provides physiotherapy, wound care, mental health, obstetric care and other services to more than 300 patients a day.
Throughout everything they have endured over the past year, our team in Gaza have remained committed to their work and to supporting the needs of their communities. From struggling to access food, to losing their homes as well as countless relatives and friends, they have not been shielded from the horrors of the last year. Their efforts have been nothing short of remarkable.
Your support has been essential to this. To all MAP supporters I would like to say a massive thank you for the past 14 months. It’s been a horrendous time but none of MAP’s work would be possible without your support.
If you can, please consider giving a donation to help my team continue their vital work saving lives, supporting Palestinians and, when a ceasefire comes, rebuilding healthcare in Gaza.
I wish you and your family a peaceful holiday and a Merry Christmas to all who are celebrating,
Fikr Shalltoot
MAP’s Gaza Director
Photo: MAP’s Solidarity Clinic in Deir al-Balah, Gaza.
