Caritas Jerusalem offers assistance to needy in Gaza

Because of the situation in Gaza, Caritas Jerusalem said yesterday it has seen the need to position specific medical resources throughout the region to help physicians respond to urgent medical care needs.

Caritas Internationalis is a confederation of 162 Catholic relief, development and social service organisations working to build a better world, especially for the poor and oppressed, in over 200 countries and territories.

Caritas Jerusalem said in a press release that these include the securing of 20 enhanced first aid kits to be given to 20 physicians selected in coordination with the Palestinian Ministry of Health.

"Because of the lack of fuel in Gaza and the inability of most people to easily move around in Gaza, this means that those needing medical care may not be able to travel to a hospital," reads the press release.

By positioning these enhanced first aid kits throughout Gaza, says Caritas Jerusalem, those who need medical care will be able to receive at least a bare minimum of care during this emergency environment.

Caritas Jerusalem stated it is also working on the issue of helping families to get food.

"With the economic situation in Gaza is in such a degraded state with all of the governmental workers going into the fifth month having received little or no salaries from the government and with the Gaza Strip under an almost complete closure, economic activity has ground almost to a halt," it said.

"We anticipate that our actions regarding distributions of food coupons will results in almost 10,000 hungry people securing basic food to help them during this current situation," it said. "We are working with our partners in Gaza to identify and reach out to other needy and vulnerable populations in need of food aid at this time."