The Health Cluster in Gaza was activated in 2009, but the past 12 months have been the toughest it has faced. The healthcare system, already fragile before the war, has been severely dismantled. Health partners have had to scale up their activities to meet the increased demand for health services, managing trauma cases, providing basic primary care, and supporting those with chronic illnesses and mental health needs. In the West Bank, the focus has been on treating injuries from military operations, settler violence, as well as delivering primary healthcare to marginalized communities. However, the ongoing financial crisis has significantly reduced the capacity of the Ministry of Health, with over 65% of health service points only partially functional.
Despite these immense challenges, 73 dedicated Health Cluster partners continue to work tirelessly to provide vital humanitarian health services to the population. In total, over 2.5 million people in Gaza and the West Bank have benefitted from the actions of these Health Cluster partners.