2016: Gaza Strip gets first new hospital in a decade, two more due this year | | Gaza Strip gets first new hospital in a... | |
Rumah Sakit Indonesia di Gaza, Resmi Diserahkan ke Palestina | | Rumah Sakit Indonesia di Gaza, Resmi Di... | | Kisahdi Balik Pembangunan Rumah Sakit Indonesia di Gaza | | Kisah di Balik Pembangunan Rumah Sakit ... | | 2014: Indonesia’s poor donate $15 million to build ahospital in Gaza middleeastmonitor.comJanuari 31, 2014 at 2:52 pm | Published in: Asia &Americas, News AnIndonesian non-governmental organisation has collected nearly $15 million fromIndonesia’s poor and rich alike to build the first Indonesian hospital in theGaza Strip. The hospital, which will serve those Palestinians living innorthern Gaza, is nearly finished and awaiting some equipment before it startsreceiving patients. It is due for completion in May. Southeast Asiancountries are known for their strong support for Palestine, especially theMuslim communities who spend many efforts to visit and support Gaza. FikriFikri, a 24 year-old young man from Sumatra, is a volunteer at Indonesia’sMedical Emergency Rescue Committee, known as MER-C. He and 28 other Indonesianshave been in Gaza for nearly four months to finalise building the hospital. Fekri toldQuds.net that: “We are nearly 30 people between workers, engineers, doctors andtechnicians. Many of us have already returned home because the work here isalmost completed.” Fekri described how “Indonesian civil society groups inJakarta collected donations from people who were happy to support Gaza, eventhough many of them suffered uneasy financial situations.” When asked ifthey face any problems in Gaza, Fekri responded that: “The people like us here.We have only encountered a small problem with the local Ministry of Healthbecause the organisation wanted to have an office near the hospital but theministry refused to allow this. But we will solve it.” Fekri, whostudies sharia at the Islamic University of Gaza, explained how: “We have takenrisks to complete the hospital. It’s a nice feeling to help the wounded in Gazawho suffer from Israeli aggression. We have come here and we know that it’s noteasy, but we are happy. I have learned Arabic in an acceptable way. However,I’m not married so I miss my home and my country.” Abu Mohammed, a42 year-old Indonesian engineer who joined the mission, said: “I feel sadsometimes because I have been here for so long. I feel lonely, but because Iwork for Palestine and Gaza, I am proud of what I do. We are nearly done. Thereare a few Indonesian workers here who take a symbolic wage. They all came towork for Palestine. We should finish our work and transfer the hospital’sadministration to the Local Ministry of Health in May 2014. We work near theborders and it is unsafe. I do not know how to describe my feeling when I hearthe explosions and Israeli airstrikes; however, I am ready to die for Palestineand for the weak and the just. I am going to be very happy when the hospital iscompleted and ready to serve the people of Gaza and when I return safely to myfamily in Jakarta.” The HealthMinistry of the Hamas-led government in Gaza and Indonesia’s MER-C signed amemorandum of understanding on 21 November 2011 stipulating the financing ofthe hospital. Shadi AbuHerbein, the deputy director of the hospital, explained that the hospital isestablished on an area that is 3000 square metres and has 100 beds, eight ofwhich are for the intensive care unit, ten for the reception, and four roomsfor surgeries.
