Health Cluster partners in the occupied Palestinian Territory — a photo essay

Inter-cluster collaboration

Inter-cluster rapid needs assessment visit to the newly recognized “Humanitarian Zones” in Khan Younis in September 2025.

A maternity field hospital in Nuseirat Camp

Meet Reem Shaheen from Nuseirat Camp. Confined to a wheelchair and facing the hardships of conflict, Reem was deeply worried about where she could safely give birth, since reaching distant hospitals wasn’t an option. MedGlobal and HCI, in partnership with Al Awda Hospital, a Maternity Field Hospital was established right in Nuseirat Camp to bring essential maternal care closer to women like Reem.

Nurse at Al-Awda Health and Community Association

In my daily work as a nurse at Al-Awda Health and Community Association, I face harsh challenges shaped by the current crisis. The hardest moments are inside ambulances with the injured—especially children—where seconds decide between life and death. Working in constant emergencies tests not only our medical skills but also our psychological and human endurance. With severe shortages of equipment and medicines, we rely on the simplest means to save lives. This doubles our responsibility: beyond treatment, we strive to offer families a sense of safety and reassurance in their darkest hours. Each time I look into the eyes of a young patient, I realize our mission goes beyond a profession. It is a humanitarian duty that reflects our people’s resilience in the face of hardship. Despite overwhelming challenges, our greatest motivation remains saving lives and easing pain. At Al-Awda, we continue this mission with conviction, upholding healthcare as a right for all—even in the most difficult times.

the Jerusalem Princess Basma Centre

In the midst of this humanitarian crisis, the Jerusalem Princess Basma Centre, is making a difference to the lives of children with disabilities and their families through its Outreach Programs in the West Bank, its inpatient and outpatient services in East Jerusalem and its pediatric rehabilitation unit in Gaza City.
Over the last two years, despite multiple challenges, the Jerusalem Princess Basma Centre has:

• assessed around 3000 children with disabilities across eleven West Bank Governorates and underserved villages in the J2 area through its Outreach Program
  
• admitted over 800 children with advanced needs and their families to its residential Comprehensive Rehabilitation Services and Family Empowerment Programs in East Jerusalem
  
• delivered hundreds of multidisciplinary rehabilitation and psychosocial sessions to children with disabilities in Gaza, (with both post-acute injuries and chronic conditions), seeing an average of over 200 beneficiaries every week (August 2025 data for WHO).

EMPHNET outreach awareness session

EMPHNET, in collaboration with UNFPA, insisted on reaching Maghazi camp—classified as a red zone—because of the heightened vulnerability of its displaced residents. On 15 November 2025, EMPHNET conducted an outreach awareness session in the camp focused on Menstrual Hygiene Management (MHM) and women’s health. The activity provided life-saving information on menstrual hygiene, self-care, and reproductive health, while also distributing dignity kits to support daily needs. Beyond service delivery, the sessions created a safe space for women to engage in dialogue and receive psychosocial support. These efforts, alongside continued delivery of essential medical supplies, immunization services, and mobile health outreach, highlight the commitment of health workers to provide care even in the most dangerous and underserved areas.

Physiotherapy Center at Deir Al-Balah Rehabilitation Society

Osaid Obeid, a boy aged 2 months, was diagnosed with right-sided torticollis. He was placed on a physiotherapy program that included hot pack application, passive range of motion exercises, friction massage, and a structured home routine. After only three sessions, Osaid showed significant improvement, demonstrating increased neck mobility in both directions, with clear positive response to treatment and early signs of functional recovery.

Al-Bahr Primary Health Care Centre

Community members waiting for services at Al-Bahr Primary Health Care Centre in Deir Al-Balah, January 2025.