AAH is affiliated with the Episcopal Diocese of Jerusalem and plays an enormous role in providing comprehensive general and surgical care, and promotes public health to the 1.4 million people living in the Gaza Strip, regardless of race, gender, ethnic background or political affiliation. A significant portion of the care to about 7,000 patients is charitable, including in-patient, out-patient, surgery, medications, laboratory exams, physical therapy, maternity and follow-up examinations.
LOPC has been supporting AAH to provide vital emergency equipment such as an auto clave, x-ray machine, operating room table and monitor, automated hematology machine and an EKG machine.
Over the past three years, members of the Middle East Peacemaking team have been able to visit the hospital and to be inspired by what it can do in a very desperate area of the world. Plans are to visit again, if political and safety conditions allow.
Update from Suhalia Tarazi, Director Ahli Arab Hosptial in Gaza - 1/15/09
"The situation is terrible. The injured are in their homes and unable to get to the hospital and the International Red Cross can't reach them. Gaza is now divided into three areas. 20% of the staff including 2 doctors are now unable to get to the hospital. Unfortunately a bomb went off in Jerusalem Square, right outside the hospital, only 30 meters away and it blew a hole in the hospital wall."
For more information contact Robin Freeberg at (925) 283-9990 ext 250
Atfaluna Society for Deaf Children, Gaza Strip, Palestine
Atfaluna (Arabic for ‘our children’) is a registered Palestinian NGO that has been working in the field of deaf education and related services since 1992. The school annually serves thousands of hearing impaired/deaf adults and children and their families through deaf education, audiology, speech therapy, and awareness programs and more.
LOPC has sponsored a classroom consisting of 20 students at the school for 3 out of a 5 year commitment. The class is made up of children who would have no chance for an education with out LOPC member support. The children come from very poor families who would be facing bleak futures if it were not for the generosity of LOPC members.
Members of the Middle East Peacemaking team have visited the school for the past three years. The students and teachers of the LOPC classroom are always thrilled to receive “Lopec” visitors and to express their appreciation for member support. Plans are to visit again, if political and safety conditions allow.
Update from Nabil Elsharif, Executive Director, Atfaluna Society for Deaf Children -1/15/09
"It has been very horrifying experience for everybody, the situation remains extremely difficult. Atfaluna has suspended its operation since the first day of the bombardment. The Atfaluna building was badly damaged due to the bombing of a next door facility. Some of Atfaluna employees lost their loved ones, and other their homes got destroyed."
MEEI was founded by Father Elias Chacour, now Archbishop of Akko, Haifa, Nazareth and Galilee and is now a consortium of six schools with a total enrollment over 3,000 students. The schools include a kindergarten, elementary school, high school, technical college and a university. In addition, MMEI operates a regional center to train teachers of Arab children throughout Galilee and a school for gifted children.
LOPC has sent Peacemaking teams to MEEI over the past three years, talking to and meeting with teachers, students and staff, extending loving hearts and friendship, assisting with office work, gardening, painting, maintenance, and other tasks.
Website: www.pilgrimsofibillin.org and www.meei.org
