Palestine

In this apocalyptic context, access to all basic services and humanitarian aid has been drastically restricted by Israel.

There is a constant lack of medicines, medical supplies and equipment. 60% of hospitals and 48% of primary care centres are only partly functioning. People face a daily struggle with electricity shortages and lack of access to food. The health situation is disastrous and multiple avoidable diseases and infections are appearing.

In addition, humanitarian and healthcare workers are subjected to targeted attacks and teams working for humanitarian organisations are operating in conditions that are physically and mentally extreme, as they risk their lives to respond to the enormous needs of the population.

The number of incidents in the West Bank has increased since October 2023 and the security situation has worsened. 2024 was one of the most deadly years for the Palestinians of the West Bank, with 498 people killed by settlers and the Israeli armed forces.

People live in a constant state of tension due to the proximity of Israeli settlements. Surrounded by a significant military presence, the Palestinians frequently endure searches, harassment and systematic checkpoints, which impede movement and access to basic services, including healthcare. Some Israeli settlers regularly attack the Palestinian communities and beatings, stonings, shootings, damage to homes, destruction of crops and even murder are common.

These traumatic experiences come on top of multiple forced displacements and demolitions of Palestinian homes by the Israeli occupying forces (1,768 demolitions took place in the West Bank during 2024) and the simple fact of a looming threat of annexation in the territories.

In the regions of Nablus, Ramallah, Jenin, Tulkarm, Tubas, Salfit and Qalqilya, Médecins du Monde offers mental health and psychosocial support services to victims of violence by settlers and the Israeli armed forces. Our mobile teams travel around the communities to provide support to people who have suffered attacks or who feel under threat. We provide initial counselling and, where necessary, refer people to specialist services.

In addition, local medical staff are trained to identify psychosocial issues so patients can be treated and then, if required, a referral can be made to the appropriate healthcare facilities.

A referral system for mental health problems developed by Médecins du Monde with the Ministry of Health was officially adopted as a tool to be used nationally.

In Gaza, Médecins du Monde is working with a Palestinian partner, the Culture and Free Thought Association (CFTA), to provide psychosocial support and mental healthcare to affected communities. In addition, we develop approaches in hospitals and health centres to care and treatment for mental health problems, including addressing stigmatisation.

In the West Bank, Médecins du Monde is working in a number of communities particularly affected by violence to prepare health facilities and the population to cope with emergencies. Healthcare staff and key members of the community receive training in first aid and how to manage such situations. Healthcare facilities are also being refitted to include dedicated spaces where urgent medical cases can be treated in emergency situations.

In both Gaza and the West Bank, Médecins du Monde provides healthcare staff with training on sexual and reproductive healthcare for young people. We also organise education sessions on these issues, which are still largely taboo in Palestinian culture, with the aim of improving access to these services.