Medical Aid for Palestinians
Encyclopedia
Medical Aid for Palestinians (MAP) is a British
charity
that offers medical services in the West Bank
, Gaza Strip
and Lebanon
and, advocates for the universal right to health.
. Support for the organization originates from the British
public, British Government, European Union
and international aid organisations. It is run by a board of trustees headed by Mr Robin Kealy CMG – a former career diplomat, who was HM Ambassador in Tunis from 2002-2004 and Consul General in Jerusalem from 1997-2001. Its president is Lord Patten of Barnes who succeeded Helena Kennedy, Baroness Kennedy of The Shaws in 2010.
Medical Aid for Palestinians was founded in 1984 by Major Derek Cooper
and his wife, Mrs Pamela Cooper
, in the wake of the 1982 Sabra and Shatila massacre
in Lebanon. Dr Swee Chai Ang FRCS is also a founding Trustee. They deliver basic health and medical care to Palestinian refugees and they strive to establish a permanent medical infrastructure in Palestinian communities by training health care practitioners, teaching medical vocational skills and addressing the requirements of particularly vulnerable groups such as people with disabilities.
Medical Aid for Palestinians offers practical medical support to Palestinians and other victims of conflict and displacement by working with local non-governmental organisations and the Palestinian Health Service on the following priority areas in the West Bank and Gaza strip:
In the Palestinian refugee camps of Lebanon, Medical Aid for Palestinians works on the following areas:
MAP is currently investing over £860,000 in seven projects across the strip. Five are addressing ‘significant gaps in service provision’ (SGSP), one is focusing on ‘community based health development’ (CBHD) and one is providing ‘emergency relief’ (ER).
The projects include improving the environmental health conditions in Al Zarqa, where alongside ‘Palestine Save the Children Foundation’ (PSCF) MAP is providing mains sewage connections, road paving, health and hygiene education. Work promised by the PA but never fulfilled.
MAP is also working with local partners on health and hygiene in Al Zawaydeh, improving the nutritional status of marginalized children around Khan Younis and providing psychosocial support for Gazan children, parents and teachers.
The West Bank
There are six MAP active projects in the West Bank with 5 focused on CBHD and 1 on SGSP.
MAP is working with the Palestinians Medical Relief Society (PMRS) in training community health workers. In Yatta town and the surrounding villages MAP is partnering the ‘Ard El Atfal’ NGO in providing prenatal and postnatal care. MAP and the ‘Mothers’ School Society’ are funding a school programme in the Nablus district, while also contributing to the emergency health services of 3 villages west of Ramallah in partnership with the ‘Health Work Committees’.
In total MAP has invested over £263,000 on these projects to date.
Jerusalem
MAP, in partnership with the Church of the Redeemer, has invested over £18,500 in continuing to provide healthcare support to the elderly in the Old City of Jerusalem.
Lebanon
MAP is presently investing over £300,000 in 16 active projects in Lebanon.
In the aftermath of the destruction of Nahr El Bared camp MAP is working with ‘Nabaa – Development Action Without Border’ in post conflict evaluation.
Meanwhile in Bourj al Barajneh and Tyre-area refugee camps, MAP and the Women’s Health Organisation are running a project developing a health visitor programme for community nurses. MAP is also working with the Lebanese Red Cross in training paramedics in Sidon and the Bekaa, while running an awareness campaign on dental health in Beirut and throughout the south of the country.
Longer-term projects are focusing on business development services for women in Beirut, developing grass roots civil sector organisations throughout the country and providing start up grants for small businesses in Southern Lebanon, which is still recovering from the effects of the 2006 war.
Iraq/Syria
Following the basic needs assessment conducted in al-Waleed Camp, MAP continues to work towards proving emergency relief and healthcare services. MAP has organised regular visits to the camp from a doctor and a gynaecologist.
Britain
The British office is responsible for fund raising and advocacy work. Andrea Becker is head of advocacy for MAP. Recently, the organization has drawn attention as the beneficiary of Caryl Churchill
's playlet Seven Jewish Children
.
, a pro-Israel non-governmental organization
with the stated aim of "monitoring other non-governmental organizations" operating in the Middle East, disputes Medical Aid for Palestinians describing itself as "non-political" and "non-partisan", due to the group's work "in advocacy on behalf of the Palestinians instead of providing medical care and aid to those in need." MAP describes itself as engaged in "advocacy work."
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
charity
Charitable organization
A charitable organization is a type of non-profit organization . It differs from other types of NPOs in that it centers on philanthropic goals A charitable organization is a type of non-profit organization (NPO). It differs from other types of NPOs in that it centers on philanthropic goals A...
that offers medical services in the West Bank
West Bank
The West Bank ) of the Jordan River is the landlocked geographical eastern part of the Palestinian territories located in Western Asia. To the west, north, and south, the West Bank shares borders with the state of Israel. To the east, across the Jordan River, lies the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan...
, Gaza Strip
Gaza Strip
thumb|Gaza city skylineThe Gaza Strip lies on the Eastern coast of the Mediterranean Sea. The Strip borders Egypt on the southwest and Israel on the south, east and north. It is about long, and between 6 and 12 kilometres wide, with a total area of...
and Lebanon
Lebanon
Lebanon , officially the Republic of LebanonRepublic of Lebanon is the most common term used by Lebanese government agencies. The term Lebanese Republic, a literal translation of the official Arabic and French names that is not used in today's world. Arabic is the most common language spoken among...
and, advocates for the universal right to health.
Aim and history
Its stated aim is to meet the humanitarian needs of the Palestinian peoplePalestinian people
The Palestinian people, also referred to as Palestinians or Palestinian Arabs , are an Arabic-speaking people with origins in Palestine. Despite various wars and exoduses, roughly one third of the world's Palestinian population continues to reside in the area encompassing the West Bank, the Gaza...
. Support for the organization originates from the British
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
public, British Government, European Union
European Union
The European Union is an economic and political union of 27 independent member states which are located primarily in Europe. The EU traces its origins from the European Coal and Steel Community and the European Economic Community , formed by six countries in 1958...
and international aid organisations. It is run by a board of trustees headed by Mr Robin Kealy CMG – a former career diplomat, who was HM Ambassador in Tunis from 2002-2004 and Consul General in Jerusalem from 1997-2001. Its president is Lord Patten of Barnes who succeeded Helena Kennedy, Baroness Kennedy of The Shaws in 2010.
Medical Aid for Palestinians was founded in 1984 by Major Derek Cooper
Derek Cooper
Major George Derek Cooper OBE MC was a British Army officer, campaigner for refugees, and supporter of the Palestinian people.-Early life and career:...
and his wife, Mrs Pamela Cooper
Pamela Cooper
Pamela Margaret Cooper was a British courtier, campaigner for refugees, and a supporter of the Palestinian people.-Biography:...
, in the wake of the 1982 Sabra and Shatila massacre
Sabra and Shatila massacre
The Sabra and Shatila massacre took place in the Sabra and Shatila Palestinian refugee camps in Beirut, Lebanon between September 16 and September 18, 1982, during the Lebanese civil war. Palestinian and Lebanese civilians were massacred in the camps by Christian Lebanese Phalangists while the camp...
in Lebanon. Dr Swee Chai Ang FRCS is also a founding Trustee. They deliver basic health and medical care to Palestinian refugees and they strive to establish a permanent medical infrastructure in Palestinian communities by training health care practitioners, teaching medical vocational skills and addressing the requirements of particularly vulnerable groups such as people with disabilities.
Medical Aid for Palestinians offers practical medical support to Palestinians and other victims of conflict and displacement by working with local non-governmental organisations and the Palestinian Health Service on the following priority areas in the West Bank and Gaza strip:
- Provide health care in isolated rural communities of the West Bank;
- Improve nutrition among refugees in Gaza;
- Contribute to psycho-social support efforts for women and children affected by the conflict;
- Assist people with congenital disabilities and disabilities due to injury.
In the Palestinian refugee camps of Lebanon, Medical Aid for Palestinians works on the following areas:
- Improve environmental health;
- Support primary health care;
- Build capacity to improve income generation;
- Assist people with congenital disabilities and disabilities due to injury.
Projects
The Gaza StripMAP is currently investing over £860,000 in seven projects across the strip. Five are addressing ‘significant gaps in service provision’ (SGSP), one is focusing on ‘community based health development’ (CBHD) and one is providing ‘emergency relief’ (ER).
The projects include improving the environmental health conditions in Al Zarqa, where alongside ‘Palestine Save the Children Foundation’ (PSCF) MAP is providing mains sewage connections, road paving, health and hygiene education. Work promised by the PA but never fulfilled.
MAP is also working with local partners on health and hygiene in Al Zawaydeh, improving the nutritional status of marginalized children around Khan Younis and providing psychosocial support for Gazan children, parents and teachers.
The West Bank
There are six MAP active projects in the West Bank with 5 focused on CBHD and 1 on SGSP.
MAP is working with the Palestinians Medical Relief Society (PMRS) in training community health workers. In Yatta town and the surrounding villages MAP is partnering the ‘Ard El Atfal’ NGO in providing prenatal and postnatal care. MAP and the ‘Mothers’ School Society’ are funding a school programme in the Nablus district, while also contributing to the emergency health services of 3 villages west of Ramallah in partnership with the ‘Health Work Committees’.
In total MAP has invested over £263,000 on these projects to date.
Jerusalem
MAP, in partnership with the Church of the Redeemer, has invested over £18,500 in continuing to provide healthcare support to the elderly in the Old City of Jerusalem.
Lebanon
MAP is presently investing over £300,000 in 16 active projects in Lebanon.
In the aftermath of the destruction of Nahr El Bared camp MAP is working with ‘Nabaa – Development Action Without Border’ in post conflict evaluation.
Meanwhile in Bourj al Barajneh and Tyre-area refugee camps, MAP and the Women’s Health Organisation are running a project developing a health visitor programme for community nurses. MAP is also working with the Lebanese Red Cross in training paramedics in Sidon and the Bekaa, while running an awareness campaign on dental health in Beirut and throughout the south of the country.
Longer-term projects are focusing on business development services for women in Beirut, developing grass roots civil sector organisations throughout the country and providing start up grants for small businesses in Southern Lebanon, which is still recovering from the effects of the 2006 war.
Iraq/Syria
Following the basic needs assessment conducted in al-Waleed Camp, MAP continues to work towards proving emergency relief and healthcare services. MAP has organised regular visits to the camp from a doctor and a gynaecologist.
Britain
The British office is responsible for fund raising and advocacy work. Andrea Becker is head of advocacy for MAP. Recently, the organization has drawn attention as the beneficiary of Caryl Churchill
Caryl Churchill
Caryl Churchill is an English dramatist known for her use of non-naturalistic techniques and feminist themes, the abuses of power, and sexual politics. She is acknowledged as a major playwright in the English language and a leading female writer...
's playlet Seven Jewish Children
Seven Jewish Children
Seven Jewish Children: A Play for Gaza is a controversial six-page, 10-minute play by British playwright Caryl Churchill, written in response to the 2008-2009 Israel military strike on Gaza, and first performed at London's Royal Court Theatre on 6 February 2009...
.
Criticism
NGO MonitorNGO Monitor
NGO Monitor is a non-governmental organization based in Jerusalem, Israel whose stated aim is to generate and distribute critical analysis and reports on the output of the international NGO community for the benefit of government policy makers, journalists, philanthropic organizations and the...
, a pro-Israel non-governmental organization
Non-governmental organization
A non-governmental organization is a legally constituted organization created by natural or legal persons that operates independently from any government. The term originated from the United Nations , and is normally used to refer to organizations that do not form part of the government and are...
with the stated aim of "monitoring other non-governmental organizations" operating in the Middle East, disputes Medical Aid for Palestinians describing itself as "non-political" and "non-partisan", due to the group's work "in advocacy on behalf of the Palestinians instead of providing medical care and aid to those in need." MAP describes itself as engaged in "advocacy work."