Health situation in in OPT, WHO action – WHO press release (excerpts)

Health action in crises

Highlights No 150 – 19 to 25 March 2007

Each week, the World Health Organization Department for Health Action in Crises in Geneva produces information highlights on the health aspects of selected humanitarian crises. Drawing on the various WHO programmes, contributions cover activities from field and country offices and the support provided by WHO regional offices and Headquarters. The mandate of the WHO Departments specifically concerned with Emergency and Humanitarian Action in Crises is to increase the effectiveness of the WHO contribution to crisis preparedness and response, transition and recovery. This note, which is not exhaustive, is designed for internal use and does not reflect any official position of the WHO Secretariat. 

/…

OCCUPIED PALESTINIAN TERRITORY

Assessments and events:

• UN agencies working in the oPt issued a press release stating their grave concern by the recent attack on a UN convoy travelling from Erez to Gaza.

Actions:

• The Mental Health team organized in Amman a workshop on the coordination of mental health and psychosocial activities in the oPt; 20 persons participated from WHO West Bank and Gaza, HQ, EMRO, UNRWA and the MoH.

• WHO participated to the work of a fact finding team to finalize a report which will be presented to the World Health Assembly on the economic, social and health conditions of the Palestinian population according to the resolution of the 2006 WHA.

• In 2006, WHO’s emergency activities were funded by the Organization’s Regular Budget and contributions from ECHO, Finland, Japan and Norway as well as the CERF.

/…