~ posted on the Primate’s World Relief and Development Fund website on October 10, 2023

For several years, PWRDF has supported the al-Ahli Arab Hospital in Gaza with surgical equipment, improved access to health care and during emergencies. After the violence this past weekend, its director, Suhaila Tarazi, issued an emergency appeal to support its health services in this time of crisis. PWRDF has responded with a grant of $30,000. This grant will cover the cost to employ six additional nurses, two doctors, five operating room specialists, one psychosocial specialist and four cleaners to work at the hospital for the next three months.

Archbishop Linda Nicholls and Bishop Susan Johnson (ELCIC) issued a joint statement decrying the war and offered a prayer for the victims and their grieving families, and for peace.

“The situation is severely critical,” says Tarazi in the appeal, “and the consequences for people in Gaza are very bad, particularly in the health sector. The Ministry of Health has triggered an emergency situation and asked all health-service providers to increase their emergency response capacity. Life in Gaza is paralyzed, with all institutions and private sectors closed, affecting the people’s access to basic needs, particularly health.

“Governmental hospitals have prioritized emergency cases, deprioritizing elective surgeries and non-emergency health cases. According to the catastrophe that has started to affect the deteriorated healthcare system and people living in Gaza, AAH is committed to continuing to provide 24/7 health services for all people in need of medical care.

“The role of AAH could be highly significant in saving lives during emergencies and in eliminating the gap in the healthcare system.

“AAH management has held an internal emergency meeting to discuss the situation, to agree on an AAH response plan, and to identify the required resources to ensure provision of comprehensive healthcare. The team will schedule its technical staff to ensure that the hospital is accessible 24 hours a day.

“In order to ensure that Ahli is able to respond to the increasing need, AAH is in urgent need of medications and other resources for an emergency response. This is an appeal for your generous donations that would greatly support AAH’s response, which will positively affect the lives of vulnerable people in Gaza.

“Please pray with us that this wave of violence will be stopped, as there are no winners in wars. All are losers.”

Archbishop Hosam Naoum issued a statement of gratitude. “Thank you for your prayers and expressions of support for the safety of our clergy and people in the Diocese of Jerusalem. Please circulate this appeal as widely as possible, so that our hospital can be in a position to extend emergency medical services to those casualties caught in the crossfire.

“Thank you once again for your prayers and support, especially in this present, very grave situation.”

How you can help

To support the al-Ahli Arab Hospital during this time of crisis, please donate online to PWRDF’s International Emergency Response Fund and indicate Gaza Hospital in the comments. You can also donate by phone at 416-822-9083 (or leave a message toll-free at 1-866-308-7973 and we will return your call) or by mail. Send your cheque to PWRDF, 80 Hayden Street, 3rd Floor, Toronto, ON, Canada, M4Y 3G2. Please indicate “Gaza Hospital” in the memo field.