Mobile maternity units ‘gathering dust’ in Cairo after Israel refuses entry into Gaza, aid groups say

Detailed summary

Exclusive: Charities say eight mobile units are ready to provide care for Palestinians but cannot enter the Strip

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Eight mobile medical units are ready to enter Gaza to provide critical care for Palestinians but are being blocked at the border by Israel, aid groups have said.

Six state-of-the-art mobile maternity units, a kidney dialysis and general purpose clinic have been waiting to enter Gaza for up to two years but charities have been told by Israel that they are “dual use” and therefore could be taken by Hamas.

Money for the units was raised by groups including Medics Worldwide, Palestine Aid UK, Palestine Aid Ireland, and John Hurson, an Irish citizen and lorry driver.

Despite significant mobilisation on the ground to raise around £650,000 in funds for the units, they are collecting dust near Cairo while desperate mothers and patients need their support on the other side of the border.

“These are mothers we are trying to save,”Jilu Wahid, CEO of Palestine Aid UK told The Independent. “We need to allow these units in because they're going to immediately provide intervention. Combatants cannot use maternity units for anything. It doesn’t make sense. They should let them in.”

According to Save the Children UK, around 130 children are born daily in Gaza. However, the medical system has been devastated by Israeli attacks across the strip. All of Gaza’s hospitals have been left either partially damaged or destroyed entirely.

The maternity units cost £75,000 and are built into vehicles, allowing them to operate across the area and wherever they are required.

Each clinic is equipped to provide antenatal and postnatal care, safe delivery support, emergency obstetric triage and referrals, newborn health checks, maternal health consultations, and essential reproductive health services, according to Palestine Aid UK. The kidney dialysis unit cost £150,000 and the general clinic is valued at £65,000.

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