10.01.2024
Dublin and Glendalough Appeal Funds to Focus on Reconstruction of Gaza Hospital
Appeal target: €250,000. Funds required for the repair of solar panels to secure energy supply, restoration of the cancer centre to enable local response and treatment, and provide trauma services for children. Your support is essential and thank you to those who have already donated. Donations can be made to: Diocesan Funds of Dublin and Glendalough No 1 A/C Current Account, Bank of Ireland, 2 COLLEGE GREEN DUBLIN 2 IBAN: IE50 BOFI 9000 1769 3548 78, BIC: BOFIIE2D. Cheques may be sent to Diocesan Offices of Dublin and Glendalough, Church of Ireland House, Church Avenue, Rathmines, Dublin 6, D06 CF67
Funds raised by Dublin and Glendalough’s ‘Shine a Light for the Diocese of Jerusalem’ appeal will focus on reconstruction and the diocese’s ministries which will support people impacted by the Israel–Gaza war once the war has ended.
Following discussions with representatives of the Diocese of Jerusalem, it has been agreed that we should direct funds raised to support the diocese in the post–war period.
People around the world are responding to the Anglican Diocese of Jerusalem’s call for support. This is mirrored by the generous response to our Shine a Light for the Diocese of Jerusalem appeal which has been running since shortly after the outbreak of war. The appeal will continue until February 2 – the Presentation of Jesus at the Temple in Jerusalem. (Funds can be donated after this time but please ensure you label the donation ‘Jerusalem Appeal’ and your donation will be transferred to the Diocese of Jerusalem.)
Previous appeals by the Dioceses of Dublin and Glendalough have raised funds for Al Ahli Arab Hospital in Gaza City. At the moment the Diocese of Jerusalem is able to transfer funds through banks for short term needs, such as staff payments. Agencies, including the World Health Organisation (WHO), have been delivering medical supplies.
WHO reported just before Christmas that the hospital was the last to remain operating in northern Gaza. On visiting the hospital on December 20, WHO staff reported that Al Ahli was a “shell of a hospital”. A week earlier it had still been operating and treating 250 patients in need of emergency care. But a week later there were no operating theatres working due to lack of fuel, power, medical supplies and health workers, including medical staff and other specialists. “It has completely stopped functioning and is only operating as a hospice currently, with no or very little care services provided,” a ReliefWeb report stated.
The December 21 report continued: “At Al Ahli, about 10 staff, all junior doctors and nurses, continue to provide basic first aid, pain management as much as possible, wound care and trauma stabilization services. 80 injured patients – a week ago there were still 250 patients there – including elderly, women and small children, are sheltering in a church within the hospital grounds and its orthopaedic section. Many of these patients have lost family members and don’t have anyone to bring them water or food.” It added that WHO would continue to deliver supplies to hospitals in northern Gaza but without fuel, staff and other essential needs, medicines would not make a difference.
On January 2, ReliefWeb reported that the UN aid coordination agency OCHA noted that Gazan health authorities had managed to resume some hospital services in northern Gaza including at Al Ahli Arab Hospital. “This occurred amidst great risks surrounding the movement and work of medical teams due to the continuous bombing of residential neighbourhoods and the vicinity of health facilities,” OCHA said.
Archbishop Michael Jackson met Canon Don Binder, chaplain to the Archbishop of Jerusalem online to discuss how funds raised by the Shine a Light for the Diocese of Jerusalem appeal would be used.
Canon Binder informed the Archbishop that the explosion in the hospital grounds on October 17 2023 caused US$300,000 (approximately €275,000) of damage. The solar panels, purchased with the proceeds of Dublin and Glendalough’s 2014 appeal are down to 40% capacity and will need to be repaired or replaced. Before the war the Diocese of Jerusalem was planning to expand two of its ministries in the hospital: a cancer centre and rehabilitation centre for children. It is hoped that when war is over this will be possible. The treatment and rehabilitation of children and will be essential and will require substantial investment. Funds put aside by the diocese for this purpose will now need to be enhanced by donations, given the huge increase in need expected.
“I am grateful to Canon Binder for his candid update on conditions at Al Ahli Arab Hospital to which we in Dublin and Glendalough have had an historic commitment,” Archbishop Jackson said. “The devastation caused by the recent and on–going war in Gaza has caused havoc with the daily operation of the hospital. The contribution that it has made to the lives of people in Gaza has been incalculable. This work is no longer possible but the hope is that it will fully recommence once reconstruction becomes possible. We are focused on three areas of the hospital’s mission: the repair of a recently completed state of the art cancer unit, the repair and renewal of the solar panelling for solar power and energy, and the provision of facilities to address trauma – both physical and psychological – in children in Gaza. Your continued financial support of this appeal will be deeply appreciated.”
Donations can be made to: Diocesan Funds of Dublin and Glendalough No 1 A/C Current Account, Bank of Ireland, 2 COLLEGE GREEN DUBLIN 2 IBAN: IE50 BOFI 9000 1769 3548 78, BIC: BOFIIE2D. Cheques may be sent to Diocesan Offices of Dublin and Glendalough, Church of Ireland House, Church Avenue, Rathmines, Dublin 6, D06 CF67. All funds will go directly to our partner Diocese of Jerusalem.
Earlier this week, former President of Ireland Mary McAleese recorded a video urging continued support of the Shine a Light for the Diocese of Jerusalem appeal. You can watch that video on YouTube here: https://youtu.be/zyUbnqhnIOI?si=I4NIvR0vyQZfo69t
You can watch the WHO video on Facebook here: https://fb.watch/puEHjpPpJG/
