Health conditions in the OPTand Golan – WHO 59th World Health Assembly – Resolution

---

Health conditions in the occupied Palestinian

territory including East Jerusalem and in the

occupied Syrian Golan

The Fifty-ninth World Health Assembly,

Mindful of the basic principle established in the Constitution of WHO, which affirms that the health of all peoples is fundamental to the attainment of peace and security;

Recalling all its previous resolutions on health conditions in the occupied Arab territories; Expressing appreciation for the report of the Director-General on the health conditions in the occupied Palestinian territory, including east Jerusalem, and in the occupied Syrian Golan;¹

Expressing its concern at the deterioration of the economic and health conditions as well as the humanitarian crisis resulting from the continued occupation and the severe restrictions imposed by Israel, the occupying power;

Expressing its concern also at the health crisis and rising levels of food insecurity in the occupied Palestinian territory due to Israel's withholding of Palestinian customs revenues and the severance of external aid;

Affirming the need for guaranteeing universal coverage of health services and for preserving the functions of the public health services in the occupied Palestinian territory;

Recognizing that the acute shortage of financial and medical resources in the Palestinian Ministry of Health, which is responsible for running and financing public health services, jeopardizes the access of the Palestinian population to curative and preventive services;

Affirming the right of Palestinian patients and medical staff to the health facilities available at the Palestinian health institutions in occupied east Jerusalem;

Deploring the Israeli army’s continuous assault on Palestinian ambulances and medical personnel and the Israeli-imposed restriction on their movement, in violation of international humanitarian law,

1. DEMANDS that Israel lift the closure in the occupied Palestinian territory, particularly the closure of the crossing points of the occupied Gaza Strip that are causing the serious shortage of drugs and medical supplies therein;

2. DEMANDS that Israel dismantle and stop the construction of the wall and abide by its legal obligations mentioned in the advisory opinion rendered on 9 July 2004 by the International Court of Justice;

3. EXPRESSES deep concern at the grave implication of the wall on the accessibility and quality of medical services received by the Palestinian population in the occupied Palestinian territory, including east Jerusalem;

4. EXPRESSES deep concern also at the serious implications on pregnant women and patients of Israeli restriction of movement imposed on Palestinian ambulances and medical personnel;

5. URGES Israel, the occupying power, to shoulder its responsibility towards the humanitarian needs of the Palestinian people, in compliance with international humanitarian law;

6. DEMANDS that Israel, the occupying power, pay the Palestinian Authority regularly and without delay its customs revenues in order to enable it to fulfil its responsibilities with respect to basic human needs, including health services;

7. CALLS UPON Israel, the occupying power, to halt immediately all its practices, policies and plans including its closure regime, which seriously affect the health conditions of civilians under occupation;

8. URGES Member States and intergovernmental and nongovernmental organizations to help overcome the health crisis in the occupied Palestinian territory by providing assistance to the Palestinian people;

9. CALLS UPON Member States to provide financial support to public health and veterinary services in order to implement the Palestinian national plan for fighting the potential outspread of avian influenza in the occupied Palestinian territory;

10. EXPRESSES its deep appreciation to the Director-General for his efforts to provide necessary assistance to the Palestinian people in the occupied Palestinian territory, including east Jerusalem, and to the Syrian population in the occupied Syrian Golan;

11. REQUESTS the Director-General:

(1) to organize a one-day emergency meeting addressing the health crisis in the occupied Palestinian territory;

(2) to provide support for Palestinian health and veterinary services in establishing a modern public health laboratory capable of diagnosing avian influenza in humans and animals;

(3) to submit a fact-finding report on the health and economic situation in the occupied Palestinian territory, including east Jerusalem, and in the occupied Syrian Golan;

(4) to provide health-related technical assistance to the Syrian population in the occupied Syrian Golan;

(5) to continue providing necessary technical assistance to meet the health needs of the Palestinian people, including the handicapped and injured;

(6) to support the development of the health system in Palestine, including development of human resources;

(7) to report on implementation of this resolution to the Sixtieth World Health Assembly.

Ninth plenary meeting, 27 May 2006

A59/VR/9

= = =

____________

1 Document A59/24.