Your unwavering support allows Ahli Hospital to make a huge impact on children traumatized by conflict |
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"The crises of war, Covid 19, shortages of medications and fuel along with poverty are among many challenges that Ahli is facing daily! It becomes awfully difficult to continue working under such a harsh situation. There is no way Ahli could make this difference to the lives of the children without the unwavering support and generosity of our supporters and partners.”
— Suhaila Tarazi, director of Ahli Arab Hospital, Gaza
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In the wake of the May 2021 bombardment of Gaza, more than 122,000 children are in urgent need of specialized services to treat PTSD and chronic anxiety.
The leaders of Ahli Arab Hospital are doing their part to ramp up the program they’ve developed to treat traumatized children and their care givers.
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A therapist leads a group session at the Children's Trauma Clinic at Ahli Arab Hospital |
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Suhaila Tarazi, Ahli’s general director, said recently, “Children are suffering from different forms of violence and abuse as a result of political, economic, and social deterioration in the Gaza Strip. Thousands of children are suffering from fear, anxiety, depression and behavior changes. They are in extreme need for mental health services and care. That is why we have expanded our Children’s Trauma Clinic to serve 650 children and 130 caregivers.”
The program offers evaluation by a multidisciplinary team, structured psychosocial support, suicide prevention, case management, and referrals for additional specialized mental health services as necessary. Tarazi reported that their efforts are hobbled by major shortages of trained professionals, and the funding to expand the capacity to meet the demand.
The cost for one child and a caregiver to receive professional and comprehensive support through the Children’s Trauma Clinic is $500. The impact of early intervention to mitigate the effects of trauma in a child’s life will ripple across each family and the wider community. Please consider a gift to Ahli today.
Tarazi added, “We highly cherish the encouragement of our American friends and are so thankful for your sticking with us and offering a lifeline of hope in this struggle to improve the life of the traumatized children of Gaza. May God bless you all.”
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Archbishop Hosam Naoum invites you to the Holy Land this Advent |
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Each day in Advent our Holy Land Advent Calendar opens a new door on the lives of those we serve |
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Each day until Christmas Eve open a door into the lives and ministries of today's Holy Land Christians in the land where Jesus was born. Don’t worry if you’re just starting, all doors stay open so you can catch up! Visit the calendar at www.afedj.org/advent.
Join hundreds of friends from across the U.S. who have signed up to receive a daily email alert. In the video below, behind the December 1 door, Archbishop Hosam invites you to learn about the ministries of the Diocese of Jerusalem and remember them in your prayers as “we journey together toward Bethlehem.”
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Jerusalem Princess Basma Center (JPBC) earns high level of international accreditation for the third time |
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Following three days of rigorous examination in early November by an international team, the JPBC Rehabilitation Center received the gold level of accreditation for its service to Palestinian children with disabilities in the West Bank, Gaza Strip, and East Jerusalem. |
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Despite the challenges of the pandemic and a severe economic downturn in the region, the staff at JPBC was prepared for the Joint Commission International (JCI) triennial accreditation process. According to the JCIA, only Ambulatory Care Centers that “go above and beyond to achieve stringent patient safety and quality improvement goals,” receive this level of accreditation which certifies that the Center’s services comply with international standards and best practices.
Acting General Director, Violette Mubarak expressed her deep thanks and appreciation to all staff, recognizing that, “Obtaining international accreditation strengthens the trust that beneficiaries and their families have in us and assures them that the Rehabilitation Center is committed to the policies and highest standards to preserve their safety.”
She added, “Empowering children with disabilities and their families helps to bridge the gap between people with disabilities and their communities and contributes to their integration into their communities.”
The JCI is the international branch of the Joint Commission and works in more than 100 countries worldwide to provide accreditation for a wide range of healthcare centers from academic medical centers and hospitals to primary care providers.
Congratulations to all members of the Princess Basma Center team!
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Tune into the Christmas Lessons and Carols simulcast from Bethlehem on December 18 |
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You are invited to worship with Christians from across the world for the annual Christmas Lessons and Carols simulcast live between Palestine and the United States on Saturday, December 18 at 10 a.m. (EST).
Now in its 15th year, the simulcast is broadcast online from Bethlehem's Christmas Lutheran Church and the Philadelphia Episcopal Cathedral.
Hear familiar carols and readings in Arabic and English, and a word of hope preached this year by Bishop Sani Azar of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Jordan and the Holy Land. The event will be streamed live at www.bethlehemsimulcast.org.
For questions, please contact the Rev. Canon Matthew Dayton-Welch, AFEDJ trustee and Episcopal Diocese of Pennsylvania Canon for the Holy Land, at rector@stalbansnewtownsquare.org.
Finally, hold the Palestinian Christian community in your prayers this Advent. They continue to bear witness to the love of Christ through their congregations and their schools, hospitals, and centers for children with disabilities.
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AFEDJ offers a safe, secure channel to make gifts to support the work of the humanitarian institutions of the Episcopal Diocese of Jerusalem. |
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American Friends of the Episcopal Diocese of Jerusalem | 203.655.3575
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