Dear Friend of UPA,

I hope this message finds you well.

As UPA’s Programs Manager in the Gaza Strip, I want to personally reach out and share with you the latest developments regarding COVID-19.

It saddens me to let you know that we are now under an extended lockdown for at least three days due to the first known community transmission of COVID-19 in the Gaza Strip.

On Monday August 24, 2020, a family of four tested positive for the virus – the first known community transmission in the Gaza Strip. All previous diagnoses of the disease were linked to strictly quarantined facilities for people arriving from abroad. On Tuesday August 25, 2020, two additional community transmissions of the virus were reported.

The cases have been traced back to two locations, one in Gaza City and another in Al Maghazi Refugee Camp in the center of the strip.

Short of containing it, this outbreak can prove especially catastrophic. The blockaded strip is home to more than two million people, the overwhelming majority of whom are refugees confined to refugee camps where social distancing is virtually impossible, healthcare infrastructure is overwhelmed, and basic sanitary supplies are limited.

The situation is rapidly deteriorating. Because of the ongoing Israeli blockade, hospitals in the Gaza Strip have not been able to replenish their supplies and ensure readiness for emergencies. Gaza has only 70 ICU beds and 62 ventilators.

Earlier this year, at the onset of the COVID-19 outbreak, UPA responded by addressing the economic and humanitarian repercussions of the virus in the Gaza Strip, West Bank, Lebanon, and Jordan.

I am asking you to help us ensure we are prepared to take on the impact of this outbreak in the Gaza Strip.

The success of our efforts will depend on the readiness of our team, cooperation of our community, and your much-needed financial support. Donate today!

With hope,
Abdalla Halabi
Programs Manager – Gaza Strip