As Israel’s first retaliatory airstrike hit the Gaza Strip, Ron Finkel, founder of Australian charity Project Rozana International, was already envisioning the critical steps needed for the aftermath. Since 2013, Project Rozana has been providing essential healthcare services to Palestinians, and now, with the border between Egypt and Gaza anticipated to reopen, the organization is poised to send critical aid and commence reconstruction efforts.
Project Rozana has presented a proposal to the Australian government, seeking funding for a triage hospital in partnership with the Red Crescent (Red Cross) facility in Gaza, as well as an upgrade to their fleet of ambulances. Currently, only four of the hospital’s ambulances are equipped to transport wounded individuals. The triage hospital’s purpose is to assess whether patients can receive adequate care within Gaza’s hospitals or if their condition necessitates transport to a hospital in East Jerusalem or Israel. Additionally, the charity aims to expand its bus fleet to facilitate the transportation of critically ill Gazan residents to hospitals in East Jerusalem.
“We want to get this going immediately as soon as the opportunity allows,” emphasizes Finkel, underlining the urgency of the situation. On Saturday, Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong announced an initial $10 million in humanitarian funding to assist Palestinians in Gaza, with $3 million designated for the Red Cross and $7 million for the United Nations.
Project Rozana’s plan builds upon its existing efforts, revealing stark disparities between the healthcare systems in Israel and Gaza. Through a network of Palestinian and Jewish volunteers, the charity facilitates access to critical care for Gazan residents, particularly children in need of specialized treatments unavailable in Gaza.
Dr. Jamal Rifi, a former Australian of the Year who collaborates with the charity, expressed concern over the escalating conflict’s impact on critically ill children. Due to border closures, none of the children supported by the charity have been able to access vital dialysis or cancer treatments. Rifi underscores the necessity of readiness for when the situation allows their transport.
In the face of the recent devastating blast at a Gaza hospital, which both Israel and Hamas deny causing, Rifi laments the loss of life and stresses the strain on an already beleaguered healthcare system. He commends the resilience of Palestinians and their dedicated medical professionals, emphasizing the need for support to relieve their tireless efforts.
As tensions persist, Project Rozana International stands ready to provide critical healthcare assistance, demonstrating the potential for meaningful contributions and impact from Australians during this challenging period.
