RAMALLAH — The United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) inaugurated Al-Sabra Health Center in Gaza City, with funding from Saudi Arabia. "UNRWA was able to build Al-Sabra Health Center with generous funding from the Saudi Arabia through the Saudi Fund for Development, as part of an agreement worth $ 31 million, which was signed in November 2018," UNRWA Commissioner-General Philippe Lazzarini said in a statement. In addition to building the Al-Sabra Health Center, the agreement also provides for the construction, furnishing, equipment, and maintenance of UNRWA's schools, restoration and reconstruction of more than 250 homes, and the provision of fuel for water and sanitation facilities in Gaza. Lazzarini pointed out that Saudi Arabia is one of the most important donors to UNRWA, and over the past five years, it has funded the construction of seven health centers in Gaza through the Saudi Fund for Development. It has also financed the construction of a number of schools and the reconstruction of more than 1,000 completely destroyed homes. Lazzarini added: "It is compelling to see how the years of blockade and recurrent conflicts have affected the life in Gaza. The health sector has been severely hit and its infrastructure needs urgent maintenance. The coronavirus pandemic is an additional burden on the dilapidated health infrastructure, and these recent generous contributions made by Saudi Arabia will help thousands of Palestine refugees keep their health." Lazzarini said that UNRWA is grateful to Saudi Arabia for being a reliable partner and friend of Palestine refugees in times of crisis. It is noteworthy that the Al-Sabra Health Center serves more than seventy thousand registered Palestinian refugees living in the areas of Al-Shuja'iya, Al-Turkman, Al-Zaitoun, Al-Sabra, Tal Al-Hawa, Al-Rimal Al-Janoubi, and Omar Al-Mukhtar Street. The new building of the Al-Sabra Health Center was constructed and equipped to provide high-quality primary health services. The health center includes facilities for family planning, prenatal care, mother and child care, as well as a department for non-communicable diseases. The new facilities also include units for medical dental care, laboratory services, physiotherapy, and psychological, social, and legal counseling.
