On Wednesday, 13 June, forces loyal to the exiled Yemeni president and Saudi-led Arab coalition launched an assault on Hodeidah, Yemen’s main port. In an open letter, Médecins du Monde and 13 other associations urge parties to the conflict to protect the 600,000 civilians on the ground and to respect the international humanitarian law.

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Paris, 13 June 2018.

Re: Imminent attack on Hodeidah port in Yemen

Dear President Macron,

We are writing to express our alarm at the rapidly deteriorating crisis in Yemen and to urge you to do everything in your power to press the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia to ensure that the Yemeni port city of Hodeidah is not attacked.

An attack on the port of Hodeidah, a lifeline for over 20 million Yemenis, is likely to have a catastrophic impact on civilians. We share the concerns of the UN Humanitarian Coordinator Lise Grande that “as many as 250,000 people may lose everything— even their lives.” UN Special Envoy Martin Griffiths warned two months ago that such an attack could “in a single stroke, take peace off the table.”

Given the imminence of the threat, we appeal to you to issue a clear public statement that France cannot continue to support any party that attacks the port of Hodeidah, and that all parties will be held accountable for any violations against civilians. We urge France to redouble its efforts, bilaterally and at the UN Security Council, to push all parties to engage with the UN Special Envoy’s peace efforts.

Some of the signatories of this letter recently wrote to you to welcome France’s efforts to address the humanitarian crisis in Yemen and specifically share our expectations regarding the humanitarian conference on Yemen you are convening in Paris later this month, co-presided with Saudi Arabia. Should the attack on Hodeidah indeed occur, it would be inconceivable for the conference to go ahead as planned.

Large parts of the Yemeni population would be at risk of entrapment, displacement, disease and worsening food insecurity, including possible famine. Such dramatic consequences for civilians would stand in stark contrast to the stated intentions of the conference. In this context, we urge you to reconsider your engagement in this initiative and make it clear publicly.

In the past week alone, separate airstrikes damaged both an MSF cholera treatment center in Abs and NRC guesthouse in Sana’a, showing the failure of the Saudi and Emirati-led coalition to take all necessary precautions to avoid placing civilians, including humanitarian organisations and their staff, at risk. We urge you to condemn these unacceptable attacks and send a clear message by announcing suspending the transfer of French military equipment at risk of being used against civilians in Yemen.

As you are aware, the current situation in Yemen is untenable – we recognize the security concerns of Yemen’s neighbours, but without a rapid and radical shift in course the country faces an even more catastrophic humanitarian crisis.

Working closely with the UN Special Envoy, the US and the UK and other Security Council members, France could play an important role in the coming hours to prevent an attack on Hodeidah and work toward a ceasefire and lasting peace deal.

Yours sincerely,

List of signatory organisations:

1. Action Contre la Faim
2. Alliance internationale pour la défense des droits et des libertés
3. CARE International
4. FIDH (Fédération internationale des ligues des droits de l’homme)
5. Handicap International
6. Ligue des droits de l’Homme
7. Médecins du Monde
8. Norwegian Refugee Council
9. Oxfam France
10. Refugees International
11. Relief International
12. Saferworld
13. Sisters’ Arab Forum for Human Rights
14. SumOfUs

11 June 2018 – INGOs in Yemen today warned that any further escalation of violence around the port city Hodeidah could have catastrophic consequences. Humanitarian organizations fear an imminent attack on the city given developments on the ground over recent weeks.

If an attack does take place, it is likely to have a catastrophic impact on the civilian population as large parts of the Yemeni population will be at risk of displacement, disease and worsening food insecurity, including possible famine. Food imports have already reached the lowest levels since the conflict started and the price of basic commodities has risen by a third. Seventeen million people in Yemen are already food insecure, and Hodeidah governorate is already in crisis.[1] People’s coping mechanisms are exhausted.

We are gravely concerned that in the absence of commercial imports in case of an attack on the port for any length of time, parts of the population could experience famine.[2] As the UN Humanitarian Coordinator Lise Grande said “as many as 250,000 people may lose everything— even their lives,”[3] if there is a military attack on Hodeidah port.

In order to prevent thousands of civilian casualties, mass displacement, and possible famine, as well as the breakdown of current peace efforts of UN Special Envoy Martin Griffiths, we urge all parties to the conflict to refrain from any further military activities in and around Hodeidah city and the ports of Hodeidah and Saleef. Both ports provide the lifeline to around two thirds of the Yemeni population.

We call on all parties to the conflict to immediately cease violence, keep the ports of Hodeidah and Saleef open and fully functional, and uphold their obligations under International Humanitarian Law to protect the civilian population from the worst impacts of the violence.

Signatories:

Action contra la Faim

ACTED

Adra

Care International

Danish Refugee Council

Global Communities

Handicap International

International Medical Corps

Intersos

International Rescue Committee

Islamic Relief

Mercy Corps

Médecins du Monde

NRC

Oxfam

Première Urgence – Aide Médicale Internationale

Relief International

Save the Children

Solidarités International

War Child UK

ZOA

[1] Yemen IPC Analysis, March-July 2017, https://reliefweb.int/report/yemen/yemen-ipc-analysis-summary-findings-a…

[2] According to latest FewsNet statement from May 2018 https://reliefweb.int/sites/reliefweb.int/files/resources/Yemen%20-%20Ke…

[3] Reuters, “U.N. says assault on Yemeni port could cost 250,000 civilian lives”, 8 June 2018, https://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-yemen-security/u-n-says-assault-on-yem…

AIDA, a network of more than 80 INGOs operating in the occupied Palestinian territory (oPt), on Tuesday condemned Israel’s unlawful killing of demonstrators at the border of the Gaza Strip on 14 May 2018. So far, 61 Palestinians have been killed, including one medic and eight children, and over 2,700 others have been injured, the majority by live ammunition fired at protesters by Israeli security forces, according to the Ministry of Health in Gaza. The casualties occurred in the context of protests near the fence with Israel.

“Israel’s continued use of lethal and excessive live-ammunition against protestors is not only deplorable, but also in sharp contravention of international law,” said William Bell, Head of Middle East Policy and Advocacy, Christian Aid.

Monday’s demonstration is a culmination of a sequence of protests organized since 30 March 2018 to mark 70 years since the expulsion of more than 750,000 Palestinians from their homes in 1948. More than 70 % of Gaza’s population are refugees, living under dire circumstances in the besieged Strip.

“The Gaza Strip is on the verge of a humanitarian disaster as a result of 11 years of blockade, which has crippled Gaza’s economy and increased aid dependency, with some 84 % dependent on humanitarian assistance, and an unemployment rate which stands at a staggering 45 %. Gaza is an open air prison for 2 million women, men, boys and girls, living under air, sea and land blockade. People are losing hope that the untenable situation they find themselves in will ever be resolved”, said Chris Eijkemans, Country Director for Oxfam in the occupied Palestinian territory and Israel.

Since 30 March, more than 100 Palestinians have been killed, and another 12,271 injured, including hundreds of children. In addition, medical personnel and facilities have also come under fire, resulting in the injury of 211 medical staff and damage sustained to 25 ambulances, according to WHO. Hospitals are at the brink of collapse, unable to deal with the vast number of injured as a result of a decade-long blockade and insufficient electricity and medical supplies and equipment. Due to the near impossibility of obtaining a medical referral for surgery outside of the Gaza Strip, 21 Palestinians injured during demonstrations have so far had limb amputations since 30 March.

According to international law, lethal fire may only be used in circumstances where threat to life is imminent. Israeli forces are obliged to exercise restraint and refrain from excessive use of force, and respect Palestinians’ right to life, health and freedom of assembly. Targeting medical personnel is a breach of IHL and is considered a War Crime under the Rome Statute. Preventing injured persons from accessing treatment is a violation of their right to health, and amounts to collective punishment.

AIDA calls on third states to condemn Israel’s unlawful killings and to step up their pressure on Israel to immediately halt its practice of using live ammunition against unarmed demonstrators, which runs contrary to Israel’s obligations under international law, and to lift its unlawful blockade of the Gaza Strip. Echoing the words of UN Secretary General, Antonio Guterres, AIDA urges third states to demand independent and credible investigations into the incidents, and for those responsible to be held to account.

(Paris, 15/05/2018) On the 70th anniversary of the Nakba, Médecins du Monde – Doctors of the World (MdM), which has been operating in Palestine for over 16 years, condemns Israel’s use of force against Palestinian civilians in the Gaza Strip. Palestinians have been demonstrating since 30 March this year, calling for their right to return.

70 years ago nearly 750,000 Palestinians fled their land between 1948 and 1949. For the last seven Fridays the Palestinians of Gaza have been demonstrating demanding the right to return for the 5.3 million Palestinians recognised as refugees by UNWRA and calling for their fundamental rights to be respected.

However, the use of force by the Israeli army has cast a tragic shadow over these demonstrations. To this date Tuesday 15th, the number of Palestinians killed has reached 110 and over 12,270 have been injured. The demonstrations currently taking place in Gaza and the West Bank give rise to fears for the worst.

Healthcare staff and medical facilities are also targeted by abusive Israeli attacks. More than 169 healthcare staff have been injured, plus one killed and 24 ambulances damaged. Gaza’s healthcare system is facing shortages of essential medicines and does not have sufficient resources to treat all those who have been injured. According to OCHA, one third of the 148 types of essential medicines needed to treat the patients’ injuries are not currently available in the Gaza Strip.

Unfortunately, this is not a new situation for the Palestinians in Gaza. Over the course of the past 11 years they have already seen three wars with Israel and have been living under a land, air and sea blockade. This blockade, which is described by the international community as a collective punishment, has direct repercussions on the lives of Palestinians, imposing barriers on healthcare and medication access, to drinking water, food, electricity and free movement.

Dr Jean-François Corty, Director of International Operations for MdM France, recalls this situation saying: “With just a few hours of electricity per day, coupled with the difficulty of importing drugs and medical supplies and of referring patients to the appropriate facilities, the blockade is having disastrous effects on the health of civilians. The inhumanity inflicted on the people of Gaza in what has become an open-air prison must be condemned”.

The Gaza Strip is not the only place where Palestinians suffer from Israeli abuses. In the West Bank and East Jerusalem, settlement-building has intensified every year since 1967. There are currently nearly 600,000 settlers and 150 settlements, in complete violation of international law. For this reason, Resolution 2334 of the United Nations Security Council of 23 December 2016 calls for the “immediate cessation” of Israeli settlement activities.

MdM France operates in Gaza and the West Bank. Every day our teams receive, treat and support Palestinian victims of this terrible situation. In the Gaza Strip, MdM is supporting healthcare facilities with their emergency preparedness. In the Nablus region, MdM provides psychosocial support to victims of settlers and Israeli army violence.

It is with full knowledge of the difficulties and the international humanitarian law violations noticed every day on the ground that MdM is calling on the international community to demand that the Israeli authorities:

• cease the use of force against civilians;
• respect Palestinians’ right to life, health and protest ;
• stop settlement activities in East Jerusalem and the West Bank and put an unconditional end to the blockade of the Gaza Strip.

Finally, an independent and transparent international inquiry must be established to investigate the incidents on the border with Gaza.

Amany Houchaimi, is a 24-year-old senior case manager who has been working with MdM – Lebanon Mission since 2015. She is part of the mental health team working with Syrian refugees and the Lebanese community. A case manager performs intake interviews to get a better understanding of beneficiary’s challenges and then assists in connecting with needed services and ensures a follow up of psychosocial interventions.

“From my experience in the field, I noticed that things don’t come sealed in a neat package. You have to be flexible, and adapt to a changing context. Each person is unique, each person has his own story, his own struggle and coping methods. As case managers, we listen to people, try to see what is best for their wellbeing and refer them based on their needs. Sometimes things don’t go as planned, and we have to adapt to the changing situations. Providing mental health support is a long process. It cannot be done in one day and needs constant follow-ups. Even though each person is unique, some common points are noticeable in the field. For instance, when faced with a post-traumatic situation, men feel as if they have lost a part of their masculinity. They usually suffer from severe depression because of lack of work and the sense that they no longer have a strong position in the community. Women get the impression that they have to take on responsibilities they were not used to. In some cases, they become the family’s savior. Children have to deal with harsh memories from Syria, and face fear and violence continuously. Many have bedwetting issues.

With every person I meet, I try to work on the following points:

• Never judge and criticize.
• Be attached and detached.
• Never label people.
• Never assume that all problems have the same causes or solutions.
• Listen to what they are actually saying, instead of hear what I want them to say.

Being a case manager for me means to listen with your heart and mind, and act accordingly”.

On February 28^th 2018, the Iraqi government revoked the garbage disposal contracts for Kirkuk city. In March 2018, the accumulation of garbage and waste in different areas of Kirkuk became flagrant and MdM identified it as a public health threat. MdM, taking into account its priority thematic area of “Health in Harmful environments for working or living”, identified the need to raise awareness on the waste management issue at community level but also to coordinate possible solutions with local authorities at local and district level.

From March 25^th 2018, MdM started a Waste Management Awareness Campaign in Kirkuk city, in particular in Al Mansiya neighborhood where around 30 000 Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) and host community members go on about their daily lives.

MdM used social worker and community health volunteer mobile teams. MdM’s teams proceeded with outreach activities and a door-to-door awareness raising campaign in order to inform on the dangers on health due to an absence of waste management. MdM’s grassroot advocacy initiative allowed MdM to be seen as a legitimate stakeholder on the issues raised with local, district and governorate authorities.

On April 22^nd 2018, Kirkuk city municipality reactivated a limited municipal waste management service. However, a long lasting agreement on the waste management issue has not been reached between the different stakeholders. MdM will continue to monitor the situation and raise issues to the competent actors. MdM is prepared for any other needed intervention by MdM teams on the ground in order to improve the living conditions of affected communities in Kirkuk.

The MDM chapters working in Palestine express their deepest concern regarding Israel’s violent response against Palestinian civilians demonstrating near the perimeter fence with Israel in Gaza.

In the short span of only six Fridays, the Israeli army has killed 45 Palestinians, including four children, and injured more than 7,930 civilians protesting for their right to return. Furthermore, according to the WHO, more than 99 healthcare staff have been injured and 18 ambulances have been damaged as a result of the violent response.

So far, the hospitals in Gaza have treated 4,045 victims with severe injuries, 18 per cent of them are under age and less than half of the urgent patients requiring referral to other hospitals outside Gaza have received the necessary exit permit from Israel. The high number of emergency cases is challenging hospitals’ capacity and putting on hold thousands of elective surgeries.

The excessive use of force against Palestinians demonstrating in Gaza is a violation of the right to life, health and freedom of assembly. To this date, the use of live ammunition has severely injured 2,178 civilians. The majority of gunshot wounds have been to lower limbs, causing severe orthopaedic and vascular injuries leaving hundreds of the victims handicapped.

This crisis comes on top of a protracted situation. For over 11 years the Israeli government has imposed a strict land, air and sea military blockade to Gaza. Qualified as a violation of international humanitarian law, this collective punishment has had disastrous consequences on the daily life of millions of Palestinians. While the availability of goods is the most visible aspect, the impacts of the blockade are ubiquitous along the Strip and felt every single day. Health services in particular are constantly struggling to cope with the increasing problems:

• Water pollution and lack of potable water represent an imminent risk of waterborne diseases.
• Almost half of the essential drugs and disposables are constantly unavailable.
• Electricity cuts limit the regular provision to four hours, and therefore hampering the quality and services primary health centres and hospitals provide.

Present in Gaza for over 16 years, MDM medical teams have been working with volunteers, primary health centre staff and emergency departments of six hospitals improving emergency preparedness, as well as providing paediatric orthopaedic surgeries.

The three MDM Chapters in Palestine, namely Doctors of the World France, Spain and Switzerland, condemn Israel’s excessive use of force against healthcare staff and civilians demonstrating in the Gaza Strip since March 30 and adhere to the international call for an independent investigation of each incident.

MDM chapters call for the absolute respect to the right to health, in particular eliminating any obstacle to access to health services outside the Gaza strip.

Finally, the MDM chapters urge the European Union to take concrete measures in order to implement the EU Parliament resolution 2018/2663(RSP) calling for the immediate and unconditional end to the blockade and closure of the Gaza Strip.

23 April 2018

The European Union and the United Nations will co-chair the ‘Supporting the future of Syria and the region’ conference taking place in Brussels on 24-25 April. Against the backdrop of a deteriorated humanitarian context, this event aims to mobilise humanitarian aid to Syrians inside the country and residing in host countries. Médecins du Monde (MdM) will take part in this conference and calls upon decision-makers to use their influence to ensure safe, unimpeded and sustainable access to healthcare, and to secure the funding necessary to guarantee that health needs are met and that continuity of care is safeguarded.

The current security situation inside Syria remains volatile and unpredictable with a direct impact on a health system where already over half of Syria’s 111 public hospitals and half of its 1,806 public health facilities are now either closed or only partially operational.[1] Moreover, more than half of Syria’s medical staff has fled the country and the education system for medical staff is severely disrupted, with invariably long-lasting consequences on the national health system.

Dr Françoise Sivignon, MdM President, said: “In Syria, 11.3 million people are in need of health support. The protracted nature of the conflict and the cumulative effect of years of repeated displacement, poor diet and hygiene and lack of access to vaccines has led to an increased susceptibility to public health threats and emergencies.”

Deliberate attacks against medical units reached unprecedented levels in 2018. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), 67 verified attacks on health facilities and workers occurred in the first two months of this year, amounting to more than 50 percent of verified attacks in all of 2017, which totalled 112.

Prolonged exposure to the effects of shelling and the intensity of hostilities has caused extreme psychological distress among the community.[2] The mental health workforce is insufficient to respond to the growing needs in this area, especially among children, and continuous population displacement hinders adequate follow-up.

Access to healthcare is also a real source of concern for Syrian refugees and vulnerable populations in the host countries of Lebanon and Jordan.

In Lebanon, the cost of services and transport inhibits access to healthcare. Geographical and physical accessibility are also barriers, limited by the number of available Primary Healthcare Centres (PHC) in remote areas, where there is often a lack of affordable transportation options, and refugees’ restricted movement linked to their legal stay. Insufficient funding affects the capacity to provide subsidised primary and hospital care.

In Jordan, assessments largely show that, in host communities, the cost of healthcare is the most significant obstacle preventing refugees from accessing such services, cited by 74 % of Syrian households as a reason for not receiving care for chronic diseases[3]. A recent decision by the Jordanian government states that Syrian refugees will be requested to pay 80 % of the applicable costs directly, representing a substantial increase from the previous subsidised rates.

“Access to healthcare is not a luxury and must be ensured under all circumstances. It is the responsibility of all the key players of the Brussels Conference on Syria”, added the MdM President.

[1] Health Cluster Bulletin. February 2018

[2] Ibid

[3] UNHCR (Dec 2016) Health access and Utilization survey Access to health services in Jordan among Syrian refugees

Check out MdM regional booklet “Syria/Iraq Crises 2017” that illustrates the activities led by  the different missions in 2017 (Syria, Lebanon, Jordan, Iraq, Turkey) : “Syria/Iraq Crises 2017”

AIDA, a network consisting of more than 70 INGOs operating in the occupied Palestinian territory (oPt), condemns the unlawful killing of civilians in Gaza on 6 April 2018 in the context of demonstrations within Gaza’s territory near the perimeter fence with Israel. According to preliminary figures from the Ministry of Health, 10 people were killed, including one journalist, and more than 1,300 injured.
This comes on top of the unprecedented killing of 16 Palestinians, and the injury of another more than 1,400 on ‘Land Day’, on 30 March 2018, all of whom were killed as a result of the use of live ammunition. According to WHO, 758 injuries resulted from the use of live ammunition, more than 150 of them children, in sharp contravention of Israel’s obligations under international law. Allegedly, Palestinian medics were also prevented in some cases from reaching those injured. In addition, a farmer was killed while farming his land.
The targeting of non-violent protestors is a violation of Palestinians’ right to life, health and freedom of assembly, as well as a violation of the Occupying Power’s obligation to provide for the wellbeing of the protected population. AIDA urges Israel to uphold its responsibilities under international human rights and humanitarian law and to refrain from disproportionate use of force and to exercise restraint in its response to Palestinian demonstrators.
Despite its obligation to ensure the wellbeing of Palestinians living under occupation, Israel as the Occupying Power continues to impose a decade-long illegal land, sea and air blockade on two million Palestinian men, women, boys and girls in Gaza, fostering de-development, poverty and despair.
With 44%, Gaza has one of the highest unemployment rates in the world. Its economy is almost solely surviving on international assistance and productive sectors have dramatically eroded over the past 20 years, from 27% of GDP in 1994 to 14% in 2018, according to a recent World Bank report, further compounded by a drastic reduction in funding to Palestine refugees.
Basic service delivery is severely compromised, especially the health sector, which suffers from chronic power deficits, lack of medication and adequate medical equipment, which has further impeded the capacity of hospitals to respond to the many injured. Around 42% of essential medicines are completely out of stock.
Echoing the words of UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres, AIDA calls for an independent and transparent investigation into the killing and injuring of civilians in the context of peaceful demonstrations, and for those responsible to be held to account. AIDA furthermore urges third states to take action to apply pressure on Israel to lift all measures of collective punishment towards Gaza, including the blockade, and end its 50 years’ long occupation of the oPt.

For more information: info@aidajerusalem.org