Japan to contribute ¥294 million to Gaza’s healthcare system

Cairo – Japan will provide ¥294 million ($1.84 million) to improve medical services in the Gaza Strip, the World Health Organization (WHO) said Wednesday.

The funds will be used to strengthen the coordination between emergency medical teams in the area.

A ceremony to sign the agreement between the Japanese government and the WHO was held in the Palestinian city of Ramallah in the West Bank on Tuesday.

“As profound challenges persist in Gaza, the needs of the Palestinian people extend beyond immediate humanitarian relief,“ Japanese Ambassador for Palestinian Affairs Katsuhiko Araike said.

“They also require the restoration of essential infrastructure, the strengthening of public institutions and the sustained provision of basic services that enable communities to rebuild their lives with dignity and hope,” he added.

Despite a ceasefire in Gaza between Israel and the Islamic group Hamas coming into effect in October last year, Israel has continued military operations in the territory. More than 1,600 people have been killed in post-ceasefire attacks in Gaza, according to local health officials.

A peace plan by the administration of U.S. President Donald Trump for Gaza has stalled due to disagreements between Hamas and Israel over the disarmament of the group.

Already struggling with stalled reconstruction efforts and a strained healthcare system, Gaza has experienced heavier rainfall coinciding with the onset of winter, which has caused flooding at medical facilities there.