Al-Bireh - The Palestine Red Crescent Society (PRCS) concluded today its fifth annual Partnership meeting, at its headquarters in Al-Bireh in the West Bank.
The meeting was attended by representatives from Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, and delegates from the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, the International Committee of the Red Cross, in addition to the Acting Governor of Ramallah and Al Bireh D. Leila Ghannam, and representatives of a number of local and international institutions.
In his welcoming speech, the PRCS President, Dr. Younis Al-Khatib, exposed the difficult situation the Palestinian people under occupation, especially in the Gaza Strip, which suffers from the unjust siege imposed before and after the last Israeli military operation.
Dr. Al-Khatib spoke about the difficulties and challenges facing the humanitarian work of PRCS, pointing to the aspirations of the cooperation of funders and partners to support and promote the work of PRCS and its services.
Dr. Al-Khatib said that the Red Crescent Society is part of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, noting that the meeting held this year to coincide with the celebration of 150 years since the founding of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent, and 40 years of establishing PRCS. He also mentioned that the PRCS has set up celebrations of the two events in the viallge of Bil'in, as a symbol of the suffering of the Palestinian people from the Israeli building of the separation and annexation wall.
Furthermore, Dr. Al-Khatib stressed on the importance of the role of partnership in the development of PRCS and its services provided to the Palestinian people in the oPt and the Diaspora.
He also reviewed the Society's strategy, its future plans and its preparation to cope with the expecting disasters, focusing on the programs implemented by the society in the area of capacity-building, and enhance the expertise of staff working in the humanitarian field.
Dr. Al-Khatib spoke on the deterioration of health and humanitarian situation of the Palestinian people in Gaza Strip after the Israeli military operation, its effects, the PRCS interventions with its partners, and the plans for the reconstruction of premises and facilities which are damaged during the Israeli military operation.
On his part, Mr. Pierre Vita, ICRC head delegation in Israel and the oPt, thanked the PRCS for inviting the International Committee of the Red Cross to participate in this meeting. He praised the efforts of the PRCS, to alleviate the suffering of the Palestinian people, and the cooperation with the ICRC on the ground during the Israeli military operation. Mr. Vita stresses on the importance of strengthening the partnership with the PRCS and to take in to account the lessons learned.
He added that ICRC will encourage the National Societies of the Red Cross and Red Crescent in the world, to strengthen the cooperation with the PRCS, to provide better services.
One his part, Mr. Martin Faller, head of the Middle East file at the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, stressed on the need of PRCS for all the support in such difficult circumstances.
In her word, Ms. Laila Ghannam, Acting Governor of Ramallah and Al-Bireh, expressed her pleasure to participate in this meeting, thanking PRCS partners for their continuous support, and wished the continuation of this partnership.
She also commended the services and programs and humanitarian and social role of PRCS. She also pointed out the considerable effort made by the PRCS during the lat Israeli military operation on Gaza.
It is worth mentioning that the PRCS 5th annual Partnership Meeting, aims at enhancing the communication and cooperation with its partners in the oPt and abroad and discusses topics related to health and social services in the oPt and the dispora, especially in Lebanon, and future plan of the society, in addition to the summery of the evaluation team concerning the work of the PRCS in Gaza strip during the last Israeli military operation.
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