On March 31st the project “Emergency humanitarian aid to people with disabilities from the refugees camps in Gaza that ensures the protection of their rights” was finished. The project aimed to ensure a quality access to the basic health services and the protection of the rights of the people with disabilities, who are the most vulnerable population in Gaza.
In order to achieve those goals, basic health assistance has been provided through four rehabilitation centres for disabled people; these are located on Deir, el Balah, Nuseirat, Ybalia y Rafah refugees camps and logistically coordinated from the first one, the Deir el Balah Rehabilitation Society (DBRS). These centres are necessary to improve in a medium and large-term the daily life of both the disabled people and their caregivers in the four goal communities, taking into account the specific needs of girls and women.
The first project component involved the distribution of nearly a thousand of technical assistance (wheelchairs, crutches, hearing aids, special physiotherapy blankets, etc.) aimed to improve the mobility and the sensory capacities of the people with disabilities. Furthermore, 550 children with disabilities have been diagnosed and have received the necessary health support (through cochlear implants, physiotherapy sessions, speech therapy and occupational therapy) that will improve their quality of life and allow them to be better prepared to face their daily challenges.
The second component involved the implement of home support sessions performed by a social workers team that have accompanied both disabled people and their families in their recovery processes. Also they have legally advised them in order to guarantee the inclusion in their communities. Furthermore, a direct awareness program whose target are 1.200 relatives and neighbours has been established aimed to ensure the protection of the rights of the people with disabilities. A general awareness program has been also established throughout five specific radio programmes with an audience of more than 10,000 listeners in the Gaza Strip.
The third component seeks to improve the coordination, harmonization and resilience mechanisms of the different organizations that are working on the sector of disabled people rehabilitation. The project includes three areas: between the four participating centres and three other centres located on other refugees camps (Al Bureij, Al Magazi, Shati) throughout the Coordination Committee of the Community Rehabilitation Centres in Gaza Refugee Camps (CCCRC); and between the seven centres established in refugees camps with other institutions that work in the area such as Ministries of Health and Social Affairs, the UNRWA, the Palestinian National Rehabilitation Society (PNRS) and the Palestinian Red Crescent Society (PRCS).