Health Care The Palestinian health care sector is one of the strongest components of civil society. During the Israeli occupation, nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) and charitable associations provided vital health care to Palestinians in the absence of state support. The nonprofit sector continues to be the main provider of primary health care for Palestinians. According to the Palestinian NGO Network, NGOs provide 62 percent of all primary health care services and 42 percent of secondary care. These crucial organizations remain dependent upon outside assistance to meet their operating expenses. In recent years, with international funding decreasing and Israel's ongoing closures of the Palestinian territories, the health sector has been particularly hard hit. Major hospitals in the West Bank and Gaza have been forced to cut back services and nearly one half of the NGO-run clinics have been closed due to the lack of funds. Israeli policies have led directly to many unnecessary deaths as roadblocks, curfews, and closures have denied Palestinians access to medical help. The Jerusalem Fund assists numerous organizations struggling to provide primary health care, specialty services, and emergency medical aid, including hospitals, clinics, health work committees, well-baby centers, and mammography units. Featured Project Emergency Health Services In September 2000, a second Palestinian uprising against Israeli occupation erupted in the West Bank and Gaza. By year's end, Israeli government reprisals on the Palestinian civilian population had taken a devastating toll. The harsh, internal closure on Palestinian towns and villages led to a rapid growth in poverty and unemployment. With 68 percent of the population residing in villages, the internal closure prevented people from reaching urban areas where hospital care and other specialized services are located. More than 300 Palestinians had been killed and thousands injured. The Palestinian health care infrastructure stood on the verge of collapse. The Jerusalem Fund quickly responded to this new situation in Palestine. The Jerusalem Fund provided emergency grants in support of health care facilities and service providers in urgent need of assistance. Emergency Assistance Grants Lutheran World Federation / Augusta Victoria Hospital, Jerusalem Patient's Friends Society / Al-Ahli Hospital, Hebron Union of Health Work Committees, Gaza Union of Palestinian Medical Relief Committees, Jerusalem
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