Domestic accidents can have serious consequences on individuals and families. Such consequences can be exacerbated by the situation and the environment of the victims: how can a person with no financial means pay the required treatment? For Samer, the question was more like: how will I now provide for my family?

In one of the bungalow of MdM primary health care clinic in Zaatari is a man sitting on a bed. He is quietly levering his two arms while a nurse is busily changing bandages: he was burned to the third degree after a gas bottle exploded and totally destroyed his home. “My son was staring at me while I was burning. He was shouting “Dad is burning! Dad is burning!” He didn’t run away with his siblings, he just stayed there” recalls Samer.

The carpenter has been coming every day since his admission to MdM clinic to have his arms and face dressed under the care of Dr. Zein. “When my patient first came I told him you have to go to hospital. He refused to listen and insisted. He wanted to be treated here… He explained to me that he went to a hospital and they couldn’t admit him as it was overloaded. I had to accept Samer under my care because there was no other option and his case is serious: I could not let him like that” says Dr. Zein.

According to the medical practitioner, third degree burns on hand and face are criteria of admission in hospitals’ burn unit. In normal circumstances, Samer would have been treated in such a unit: his wounds would have been dressed every 6 hours for at least two weeks in order to regenerate the skin after which he would have pursued his treatment in an outpost clinic. However this is not the case of Samer and his treatment will last longer. “We do our best with the available means. Our main aim is to have Samer recover the complete use of his hands and be able to work normally. We make sure his skin regenerates properly in order to avoid what we call claw fingers: it happens when the skin becomes very hard and prevents the movement of the fingers. This can be avoided by taking care of the burn and physiotherapy” explains Dr. Zein. When his treatment will be completed, Ibrahim will be referred to the organization Handicap International to follow physiotherapy sessions.

The nurse is now gently washing and massaging Samer’s face with gauze. It was burned too but to a lesser degree. “I am removing the dead tissues on the face by applying this wet gauze. It also helps to relax the skin and the muscles” explains Amjad. According to the medical team, Samer’s first concern was his appearance when he came. “Patients who come to see us are sometimes depressed: they have no work or no relations. We provide them with treatment but also with psychosocial support: we interact with them and show interest in them. We build a trust relationship which allows the physical treatment to be successful. If the patient is not convinced by our work and don’t trust us, it will be difficult to treat this person” adds Faraj, also nurse.

Amjad and Faraj now joke with Samer and his four-year-old son. The little boy was burned on his right arm and shoulder during the accident. Unlike his father he was admitted to the hospital as his burns were less severe. He was recently discharged and follows now his treatment at MdM clinic. Amjad is applying a cream on the wound: the skin regenerated properly and the little boy is recovering fastly.

Recovering the use of both hands is vital for Samer and his family. Carpenter and father of 8 children, he is the sole bread-winner of his family. He and his son were the only one physically injured however the accident he suffered from jeopardized the safety of his whole family: how would they make ends meet?

 Jordan is welcoming over 600,000[1] Syrians who fled violence in their home country and who have registered at the UNHCR. According to Jordanian authorities, there would be around a million Syrians present on its soil. The sudden presence of so many Syrian refugees seriously impacts the Jordanian health system as it cannot cope with the high demand in terms of available services and their quality. Médecins du Monde helps alleviate this burden by providing primary health care services to Syrian refugees and vulnerable Jordanians through two clinics in Zaatari camp and a clinic in Ramtha town

In response to the still rising needs of Syrian refugees and vulnerable host communities in Lebanon, Médecins du Monde (MdM) /Doctors of the World is supporting a fifth primary health care centre (PHCC) since October 1st in addition to the four already supported, that is located in Qab Elias, Bekaa valley. Supporting this health centre run by the Islamic Welfare Society and belonging to the Ministry of Health network is an important step in MdM intervention in Lebanon; an absolute necessity in order to improve the coverage of the Syrians’ and Lebanese communities’ health needs and support Lebanon in its constant efforts to host the refugees.

As of December 9; Lebanon counts 1,134,937 registered Syrian refugees[1] who fled the war in their home country. Their presence, representing approximately 25% of the whole population, is putting a real strain on Lebanese infrastructures, including the health system. With winter settling in, an increase in the medical needs of Syrian refugees is expected. MdM bears the responsibility to help the existing health system respond to these needs.

Qab Elias is considered to be one of the most vulnerable locations in the Bekaa as it hosts over 6,000 Syrians refugees for 55,000 inhabitants[2], approximately 11% of its population. Through its support of the PHCC, MdM covers each month 1,000 consultations for Syrian refugees and vulnerable Lebanese persons from the communities with a special focus on pregnant women and children under 5. Mental health services are also provided.

The Islamic Welfare Society is now MdM’s third local partner in Lebanon as the organization has chosen to adopt a partner-based approach for its response to the humanitarian crisis. “The civil society is very active in answering the humanitarian crisis in Lebanon and has a very good knowledge of the communities it serves. Our role as an INGO is not to replace existing systems and structures but to support them deal with the drastic increase in demand for health services. All in all, our approach is to support Lebanon to cope with the humanitarian situation it has been facing for more than three years now” states Sandrine Lecomte, MdM Interim General Coordinator.

MdM is an international humanitarian organization that provides medical care to the most vulnerable populations affected by war, natural disasters, disease, famine, poverty and exclusion with programs in 79 countries around the world;

MdM has been working to reduce the impact of the Syrian crisis on Syrian refugees’ and vulnerable Lebanese health since March 2012 by supporting primary health care centres in Beirut and the Bekaa valley in coordination with the Ministry of Health, and in partnership with Amel Association, Father Elian Nasrallah and the Islamic Welfare society, and with the financial support of UK Aid. 

Over 30 international organisations are calling on governments meeting in Geneva tomorrow to commit to offering sanctuary to at least the most vulnerable 5 per cent of refugees from Syria currently in neighbouring countries – 180,000 people – by the end of 2015.

The governments convened by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) will be making pledges to resettle or provide other forms of humanitarian admission to refugees from Syria. Up to 3.59 million people are projected to have fled the conflict into countries neighbouring Syria by the end of this year. To date the international community has pledged to resettle less than 2 per cent of this number over an unclear timeframe.

Syria’s neighbouring countries have shown incredible generosity over the last three and a half years, but the strain of the crisis is weighing heavily on infrastructure and public services. Turkey and Lebanon each host more than 1 million registered refugees. One in every four residents in Lebanon is a refugee from Syria. Jordan hosts more than 618,000 and Iraq hosts 225,000 (on top of millions of internally displaced Iraqis). With diminishing resources, refugees and host communities are paying the price, as well as those still trying to flee the conflict in Syria as neighbouring countries restrict and effectively close their borders.

“The situation for the most vulnerable refugees from Syria is becoming increasingly desperate. Some – including sick children, who without treatment, could die – are simply unable to survive in the region. Providing humanitarian aid alone is no longer an option: it’s time for wealthy governments to step up and extend a lifeline to 5 per cent of the refugee population by the end of 2015,” said Justin Forsyth, CEO of Save the Children.

“This is one of the worst refugee crises since World War II, displacing millions of civilians, mostly women and children,” said Mark Goldring, Executive Director of Oxfam GB. “We’re counting on governments in Geneva to move quickly to demonstrate the kind of international solidarity that is desperately needed to transform the lives of the most vulnerable refugees.”

While 5 per cent is only a small fraction of the total number of refugees, it would mean the hope of a better future and safety for at least 180,000 people by the end of next year, including survivors of torture, those with significant medical needs, children and women at risk – as identified by the UN refugee agency. Accepting the most vulnerable cases for resettlement or humanitarian admission also relieves Syria’s neighbouring countries from the short term costs of treating, supporting or protecting them.

“With the collapse in the international solidarity, Syria’s neighbours are now increasing their border restrictions. Desperate Syrian civilians are unable to escape the war. Wealthy countries need to scale up their resettlement pledges and at the same time increase the support to the region so that borders are kept open,” said Secretary General of the Norwegian Refugee Council Jan Egeland.

“Just because we happen to share no border with Syria, this does not free any of us from responsibility”.

The coalition of NGOs are also calling on states that have not traditionally participated in refugee resettlement, such as countries in the Gulf and Latin America, to join other states by pledging resettlement and humanitarian admission places. Beyond this, governments can also do much more through innovative ways to help refugees from Syria in 2015, such as through making available work permits and university places, while offering them full protections in line with the 1951 Refugee Convention.

For more information and interviews please contact:

Jordan: Karl Schembri, Regional Media Manager, Save the Children, karl.schembri@savethechildren.org, +962 (0) 7902 20159

Lebanon: Joelle Bassoul, Syria Response Media Advisor, Oxfam, jbassoul@oxfam.org.uk, +961-71525218

US: Oliver Money, Media Relations, International Rescue Committee, oliver.money@rescue.org,

+1-646 318 7307

UK: Sara Hashash, MENA Press Officer, Amnesty International, Sara.hashash@amnesty.org, + 44 (0) 20 7413 5511

ABAAD (Lebanon)

ACTED

ACTIONAID

ACTION CONTRE LA FAIM

AMEL (Lebanon)

AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL

ASSOCIATION EUROPÉENNE POUR LA DÉFENSE DES DROITS DE L’HOMME

BRITISH REFUGEE COUNCIL

CARE INTERNATIONAL

CARITAS

CENTRE FOR REFUGEE SOLIDARITY

CHILDRENPLUS

DANISH REFUGEE COUNCIL

EURO MEDITERRANEAN HUMAN RIGHTS NETWORK

EUROPEAN COUNCIL ON REFUGEES AND EXILES

FRONTIERS RUWAD ASSOCIATION (Lebanon)

HANDICAP INTERNATIONAL

HUMAN RIGHTS ASSOCIATION (Turkey)

THE INTERNATIONAL RESCUE COMMITTEE

ISLAMIC RELIEF

JREDS (Jordan)

LEBANESE CENTRE FOR HUMAN RIGHTS

LIGUE DES DROITS DE L’HOMME

MEDECINS DU MONDE

MEDAIR

MUSLIM AID

NORWEGIAN REFUGEE COUNCIL

OXFAM

PREMIERE URGENCE- AIDE MEDICALE INTERNATIONALE

SAVE THE CHILDREN

SAWA FOR DEVELOPMENT AND AID (Lebanon)

SYRIA INGO REGIONAL FORUM

UN PONTE PER

Testimony of Manuel Torres Lara, medical coordinator of Médecins du Monde emergency programme in Iraq

 Since the beginning of the year the fighting affecting the northern and western parts of the country has driven 1.9 million Iraqis to leave their homes and among them 900,000 went to Kurdistan. Most of these people seek to escape from the rapid advance of the Islamic State.

Médecins du Monde is active in Iraqi Kurdistan to provide an emergency response to the populations. The teams provide health care to the most vulnerable but winter is coming quickly and local authorities are overwhelmed by the situation. Our medical coordinator, Manuel Torres Lara, testifies.

“The thousands of displaced people in Iraqi Kurdistan need an urgent health and social assistance. Médecins du Monde is present to provide a complete set of primary health care services: preventive care, mental health care and basic health advice. It is very worrying that winter is coming to this part of Kurdistan and particularly in the area of Dohuk where approximately 500,000 displaced persons are located. It is a mountainous region where it snows heavily in winter.

Try to imagine what the hundreds of thousands of displaced persons living in canvas tents and abandoned buildings feel! To cope with the winter, they need additional clothing, blankets, heaters inside their tents or better shelters to protect them from the extreme cold weather.

There is also the issue that vulnerable people, such as children, women, elderly people and people with disabilities, are not being provided with additional health and social support to improve their health conditions. Women, especially Muslim women, cannot openly tell everything to a male health worker. There is no mental health counseling being provided to women, children and even elderly people. Many of the health problems suffered by these people are related to their social problems and we, as health workers, must be aware of the connection between these two factors. We must know how to refer these patients who need support to get food, better access to clean water, means to find extra work to earn some money for their families, and other social services which are available. Many of the health NGOs do not link these two elements.

“Families have already exhausted their savings.”

Since the second wave of displaced persons in early August there is not enough food to distribute. Families have already exhausted their savings. Many displaced have very little money and cannot buy what they need. At the same time, men are unable to find jobs. All this will have an impact on the nutritional status of families, particularly for the children. We also expect consequences on the mental health of displaced persons who are constantly concerned about how they can help their families to survive, especially during the winter.

A few days ago a 9 month pregnant woman told me her story: “I fled my village near Sinjar, she told me. After 3 days of walking, I had to give birth on the side of the road with the help of a soldier of the Kurdish army. I gave birth to a baby boy.” When we next saw this woman her baby was one month old and they were living in an empty house with three other families. Winter was coming and she feared for her health and the health of her son. Her husband was losing hope of finding work. In the same camp, I also met a 12-year-old girl who had been saved and adopted by a Yazidi family fleeing Sinjar. She was alone and crying – her two sisters and his father had been taken by IS.”

Click here to read the fact-sheet entitled :“ Trapped between settlements in Palestinian villages around Yitzhar and Bracha settlements”

Humanitarian organization Médecins Du Monde France (MdM), Al-Ba’ounyah Street, Building no.14, 3rd floor – Jebel Weibdeh – Amman, Jordan, Registered in Jordan at the Ministry of Social Development under the Societies Law no. 51 of year 2008, announces one specific open tender for:

Title of the contract:  MEDECINS DU MONDE VEHICLE RENTAL TENDER-I

Publication reference: MDM-F_JOR_TENDER _ VEHICLES RENTAL _2014

MdM intends to awards (a) rental contract(s) to any legal and natural persons and companies   for rental of the following vehicles;

Lot 1: Without driver

Lot 2: With driver

Main requirements:

• A written quotation including all the product specifications, the price per unit, quantity proposed and unit, total price and images of the vehicles
• The quoted price offers should include all taxes along with driver`s cost where desirable.
• All the vehicles should be fully insured; comprehensive insurance is required and will be given preference.
• Repair and maintenance of any kind will be the sole responsibility of the contractor.

• Detailed requirements and the general terms & conditions are available in the tender file

Collection of Tender Documents and Conditions:

Suppliers interested in the tender will collect the specific terms of reference, available during office working time (8:30 am – 05:00 pm from Sunday to Thursday), in MDM-F office or by e-mail:  logco.jordan@medecinsdumonde.net

Final specific offers have to be delivered directly to Medecins du Monde office Al-Ba’ounyah Street, Building no.14, 3rd floor – Jebel Weibdeh – Amman, Jordan before the 7^th December, 2014 noon (considering the opening hours of Medecins du Monde office), to the attention of the Logistic Coordinator (Sohail Ahmed Khan) or the logistic officer (Muhannad Al-Hunidi) with mention « Do not open » on the sealed envelope, as well as the reference number of the tender. Please note that official documentation is in English. No other language accepted.

The use of drawings is widespread among mental health practitioners. Psychologists working for MdM are no exception: they often use this creative activity as a tool in their therapy with children.

The resort to drawings is a component of what is called art therapy: a form of psychotherapy that uses art media as its primary mode of communication.[1] In the context of a therapy, drawings become tools used by psychotherapists to install communication and a medium to address emotional issues. “Drawings are a projective tool. We can use it with children or adults. It helps individuals to project themselves, to express their experiences, their hopes and expectations, and their childhood traumas. It allows children to communicate and verbalize their fears when they cannot speak or don’t know how to put words on their feelings” explains Chantale Eid, MdM psychologist in Lebanon.

Used in individual or group counselling, drawings can reveal a lot on a person. Indeed the therapist takes into account a great variety of information: what is represented, what is omitted, symbols, the use of the space in the paper, the choice of the colors, the thickness of the lines and the behavior of the child while drawing. With what does the child start with? Is there hesitation? Was an element erased and why? The therapist observes the child but most important of all interacts with him/her. “I usually give a topic and then ask the children to tell me a story. For example, I can ask them to draw a family. In most cases they will draw their own family. Then I question them on the protagonists, what they do. I ask them to tell me a story, to explain to me their choices, the relations between each element, etc. it gives a lot of indications that will have sense in light of the background information, the history and the context I already have on the children”, highlights Chantale.

Most of the children who consult with MdM psychotherapists, whether in Lebanon, Jordan or Palestine, have suffered trauma linked to a war situation and still suffer from their current living conditions: some are refugees while others are living under the Israeli occupation. Too many of them have witnessed bombings, fighting, the death of a family member, and are exposed to violence and discrimination: their mental and physical well-being is impacted. As a consequence, many children develop behavioral and emotional problems, anxiety or stress related problems. A therapy often using drawings as a communication medium helps work on improving these symptoms and healing the child. “We work to secure children from their fears and improve their self-esteem. It is a long-term process that can only be successful if the family of the children cooperates and children trust the psychologist.” clarifies Chantale.

Trust is the key to a successful therapy: children need to feel secure to be able to express deep feelings. Whatever tool is used, whether drawings or games, it is only within a trustful environment that therapists will be able to work.

MdM puts into place mental health projects in Lebanon, Jordan and Palestine. Psychologists provide individual consultations and group support sessions while community health workers organize mental health awareness sessions in communities. Since the beginning of 2014, more than 8,000 consultations have been provided to women, men and children.

5.4 billion dollars! This was the historic amount pledged by the donor countries at the Cairo Conference of 12 October. It’s a major gesture of solidarity that we all welcome. But for the humanitarian organizations present on the ground, it’s difficult to shake off a feeling of déjà vu. The hospitals, schools, infrastructure which we helped rebuild in Gaza first in 2009, then in 2012, are once again in ruins. We’ve been here before. We’ve seen all these images of desolation before. We’ve sounded the alert in the past, just as we do today. Let’s not rebuild a prison.

In 2009, Médecins du Monde contributed to the repair of 25 of the 27 health centres damaged during Operation Cast Lead. 20 of these 25 centres were partially or totally destroyed this summer, and MdM is now preparing to repair them. During the 51 days of Israeli bombardment this summer, Médecins sans Frontières surgical teams kept working in the Al Shifa hospital, in close collaboration with the Palestinian ministry for health in Gaza. Handicap International is providing care to thousands of wounded in an attempt to prevent these people from developing permanent disabilities. Première Urgence – Aide Médicale Internationale continues to give support to small farmers – but 75% of the equipment delivered between 2012 and 2013 was destroyed in the recent aggressions. As in the aftermath of earlier offensives, the partners of CCFD – Terre Solidaire will be developing play and study areas for children and adolescents more and more traumatized by the conflict. Many of these young people have never left Gaza. 22 of the 37 kindergartens operated as part of the nutrition programme of Secours Islamique de France were damaged, and 2 entirely destroyed, but due to the blockade the difficulties in getting construction materials into Gaza make their rebuilding almost impossible.

The immediate needs are enormous, as acknowledged by the size of the financial response from the international community. It’s worth reminding here that over the last 7 years the international community has spent huge sums of money in Gaza, and yet no significant progress has been made. As the United Nations Secretary General, Ban Ki-Moon, underlined: “Going back to the status quo is not an option; this is the moment for transformational change.” But to implement this change, the donor countries, including France, must link the provision of aid (which is more urgent and necessary than ever) to the observance of a certain number of guiding principles. Respect for these principles is a necessary condition for this aid to be effective and to reduce Gaza’s dependence on external aid on the long term.

Obviously, the Palestinians themselves are the key players in reconstruction. As an immediate measure, rapid and unimpeded access to Gaza must be granted for all Palestinian professionals (healthcare personnel, psychologists, engineers etc.) from the West Bank, including East Jerusalem. The blockade put in place by Israel has cut off the Gaza Strip from the West Bank, and Gaza cannot be rebuilt in isolation. Economic, human and academic ties between Gaza and the West Bank have become practically impossible, and this situation has been going on for years. There is an urgent need to open secure crossings between Gaza and Israel and Egypt, in order to encourage the mobilization of local resources and stimulate the Palestinian economy.

Moreover the international response must be in accordance with International Humanitarian Law (IHL), the respect of which must be ensured by Third States. These states, and Francetoo, therefore, must make sure that Israel (as the occupying power) and Egypt (as a bordering country) do not hinder the reconstruction efforts. They must also make sure their assistance does not help to perpetuate an illegal situation. It is the responsibility of the international community to put an end to the blockade. It has to implement alternative solutions should major obstacles to reconstruction once again be observed. Otherwise, just like after Cast Lead in 2009 and Pillar of Defence in 2012, most reconstruction projects will come to nothing due to border restrictions. This summer, 88,000 dwellings in Gaza were destroyed or damaged. At the current rate of entry of construction materials, it will take 18 years to import the necessary materials for their reconstruction. Between 2010 and 2014, only 1,810 dwellings were rebuilt: that’s just 2% of the current requirements in Gaza.

And if reconstruction is to be sustainable, it must go hand in hand with the affirmation of a principle of accountability, and it has to engage the responsibility of those who caused the destruction. Laurent Fabius has expressed similar views: “It is impossible to ignore the growing difficulty in securing international funding for a reconstruction which, in the past, resulted in a destruction – reconstruction to which the authors of the destruction are not even called to make a financial contribution.” The international community must associate its reconstruction programme with a timeline and indicators which enable it to evaluate the progress made in terms of the easing of restrictions on the movement of persons and essential goods as a first step towards the total lifting of the blockade.

The reconstruction effort must be accompanied by clear political measures. Humanitarian organizations can give aid and care, but only the international community can put in place the conditions necessary for a lasting improvement of the situation in the Gaza Strip and contribute in this way to restoring the dignity and hope of the Palestinian people.

Thierry Brigaud, president, Médecins du Monde

Thierry Mauricet, managing director, Première Urgence – Aide Médicale Internationale

Florence Daunis, director of operations, Handicap International Fédération

Bernard PINAUD, secretary general, CCFD – Terre Solidaire

Meguerditch Terzian, president, Médecins sans Frontières France

Rachid-Lahlou, founder and president, Secours Islamique France

ATTEND OUR NEXT INFORMATION MEETING FROM HOME!

During this meeting, you will discover:

• Médecins du Monde: its history, its values and its  Not-For-Profit model
• Programs in France and abroad
• Positions and recruitment process

You will be able to ask any questions in comments on Youtube, our recruitment officers will answer them at the end of the meeting.

Next meetings:

• Wednesday 8th October at 6 pm (French time): meeting in English – Please register
• Thursday 16th October at 6 pm (French time): meeting in Spanish – Please register

 For more info, check out this link > http://www.medecinsdumonde.org/Nos-Combats/Agenda/Reunion-d-information-en-ligne-sur-le-recrutement

Since August 12, Doctors of the World – Médecins du monde (MdM) has run activities aiming to help Palestinians rebuild the health system in Gaza strip, and most importantly, rebuild themselves. The 50-day-long war in Gaza left a land of desolation. Much needs to be done to put Gazans, the Gaza strip and its health care system back onto their feet.

The “Protective Edge” Israeli military offensive launched on July 8 resulted in more than 2,000 casualties, more than 100,000 displacements, and widespread destruction of infrastructure. The health sector was also severely affected: 13 hospitals and 58 Primary Health Care Centers (PHCC) were damaged. Many Palestinians have been injured, and many others bear the signs of trauma left by the war.

Through three mobile clinics, MdM France provides primary health care,mental health services as well as education to health to the most vulnerable Palestinians in some of the most devastated areas where the health facilities have been completely destroyed. One clinic travels to public schools serving as shelters in Gaza city and Juhr El Deek area, and two other clinics are stationed in Khuza’a and Al Fukhari. Since the beginning of this operation, 6,208 patients have received care. In addition to that, MdM supports one PMRS mobile clinic in Beit Hanoun area, in the north of the Gaza Strip. MdM is also evaluting the repairs needed for five clinics that were completely or severely destroyed during the war.

Doctors of the World works in collaboration with the Palestinian Ministry of Health (MoH) in Gaza. “All our actions are done following its recommendations and often implemented in partnership with our Palestinian partners such as Culture and Free Thought Association (CFTA), Palestinian Medical Relief Service (PMRS), and SAWA, which is supported both by MdM France and MdM Switzerland” explains Owen Breuil, MdM General Coordinator in Jerusalem.

In addition, vouchers worth 300 shekel/80 dollars are being distributed to 600 families for the purchase of medical and hygiene items such as soap and diapers. “We chose this approach because it is flexible and adapted to the real needs of the population. With these vouchers they are free to buy what items they really want. Their right to choose is not impacted, neither their dignity which is very important for them and so for us” says Thibault Larose, Field Coordinator in Gaza city.

MdM Spain supports Gaza hospitals, including al-Shifa hospital: an MdM surgeon has supported fifty surgical operations, and a second plastic surgeon is currently doing reconstructive surgery in the hospital. MdM staff has held seventeen psychosocial support sessions with an attendance of one hundred seventy three medical staff working in emergency rooms, operating rooms and rescue teams. These sessions are designed to reinforce their resilience and capacity to support the local population.

MdM contributes to the reconstruction effort of Gaza through its various and complementary actions: physical and mental care as well as support to health professionals and structures. However, this destruction-reconstruction spiral in Gaza strip has to come to an end. MdM stresses the need for this reconstruction to be sustainable and permanent: Palestinians and the Palestinian health care system must be respected, not attacked.

Notes to Editors:

MdM is an international humanitarian organisation that provides medical care to the most vulnerable populations affected by war, natural disasters, diseases, famine, poverty and exclusion with programs in 79 countries around the world.

MdM is part of an international network comprising 15 MdM organisations. In the Gaza strip, MdM France, Spain and Switzerland run health care projects aiming to rebuild Gazans and their communities. In the West Bank, MdM France and Switzerland work together to minimise the medical and mental health impact of the conflict on the Palestinian population by implementing mental health projects and monitoring settlers’ violence in Nablus governorate. MdM Switzerland also works in Hebron as well as MdM Spain in Jericho both in the mental health sector. Moreover, Doctors of the World bear witness to the violations of the right to health.