February 25th, 2019 ― Doha: Qatar Red Crescent Society (QRCS) has carried out a charitable project to provide power for the houses of poor families in the Gaza Strip. With QR 350,000 funding from Eid Charity, the project serves 58 families, or a total of 400 persons, by providing electricity to run the medical equipment used by patients 24/7.
The people of Gaza suffer long power cuts, sometimes lasting for 16 consecutive hours per day. To deal with this problem, QRCS installed solar panels to secure an environment-friendly source of alternative energy.
When selecting the beneficiaries, certain criteria were observed, such as the house location; family size; and the ratio of children, women, and senior citizens to the total number of family members.
With this vital intervention, many patients will be safe against the risk of serious health implications or even death as a result of the recurrent power cuts in the Blockade.
Coordinated with Palestine’s Ministry of Social Development, the project covered those families registered with the ministry’s national program.
The staff who implemented the project noticed the positive difference in the lives of the beneficiaries. The solar panels provide stable power, cost nothing to operate, and meet the basic needs of the patients.
One of the beneficiaries was Hayat Al-Bahisi (62), who sat on her bed at a oneroom house in Deir Al-Balah Camp, southern Gaza, while her son was administering her artificial ventilator, which she has had to use because of her bad health condition. “For the past few years, I have suffered severe respiratory diseases, which required me to use an artificial ventilator on a permanent basis, “said Ms. Al-Bahisi. “The machine needs power to work, and power in Gaza is not something that you can easily find every day”.
Another family had two kids with cerebral palsy. The medical equipment used by the beneficiaries ranged from air mattresses for bedsores to vital signs monitors.
Since early in 2008, QRCS has been working in Gaza to provide diverse health care, water, sanitation, and other forms of aid, in order to improve the living conditions of the local community.
A total of 80 projects have been conducted, with an overall cost of over $110 million.
About Qatar Red Crescent (QRCS)
Established in 1978, Qatar Red Crescent Society (QRCS) is a humanitarian volunteering organization that aims to assist and empower vulnerable individuals and communities without partiality or discrimination.
QRCS is a member of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement, which consists of the International Federation of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC), the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), and 190 National Societies. QRCS is also a member of several GCC, Arab, and Islamic organizations, such as the Islamic Committee of International Crescent and the Arab Red Crescent and Red Cross Organization (ARCO). In this legally recognized capacity, QRCS has access to disaster and conflict zones, thus serving as an auxiliary to the State of Qatar in its humanitarian efforts — a role that distinguishes it from other local charities and NGOs.
QRCS operates both locally and internationally and has ongoing international relief and development projects in a number of countries throughout the Middle East, Asia, Africa, and Europe. QRCS's humanitarian actions include providing support in disaster preparedness, disaster response, risk reduction, and disaster recovery. To mitigate the impact of disasters and improve the livelihoods of affected populations, QRCS provides medical services, healthcare, and social development to local communities. It is also active at the humanitarian advocacy front. With the help of a vast network of trained, committed staff and volunteers, QRCS aspires to improve the lives of vulnerable people by mobilizing the power of humanity.
QRCS works under the umbrella of the seven international humanitarian principles: Humanity, impartiality, neutrality, independence, voluntary service, unity, and universality