Anglican Alliance Appeal continues to support humanitarian work in the Holy Land

Posted on: March 28, 2024 9:17 AM

A hospital worker at St Luke's Hospital, Nablus - the Anglican Alliance Appeal is supporting humanitarian work

Photo Credit: The Anglican Alliance

Related Categories: Middle East

A humanitarian funding appeal, coordinated by the Episcopal Diocese of Jerusalem with the Anglican Alliance, is continuing to provide much needed support to people impacted by conflict in the Holy Land.

In the lead up to Easter, Canon Rachel Carnegie, the Executive Director of the Anglican Alliance, has visited the Diocese of Jerusalem for a journey of solidarity and pilgrimage.

The visit has been made in the same week of the UN Security Council Resolution calling for a ceasefire to the conflict in the Holy Land and urgent humanitarian access.

Since the conflict in Gaza began, the Anglican Alliance has convened a consortium of international partners around the Anglican Communion to respond to a specific humanitarian appeal from the Diocese of Jerusalem.

The joint appeal has been raising funds to help vulnerable people access quality health and education services through Anglican run institutions across the Holy Land including Gaza. To date, this has included:

Costs of medical services for vulnerable outpatients at Al-Ahli Hospital in Gaza, as well as Saint Luke’s Hospital in Nablus and Penman Clinic in Jenin on the West Bank.
Costs of medical services for vulnerable inpatients at the hospitals.
Assistance to those displaced or economically impacted by conflict in the West Bank, especially to ensure children continue to receive quality education, with psychosocial support.

Representing the Anglican Alliance, the aim of Rachel’s visit was to listen to the experiences of the Church and people, to pray together, and to visit some of the diocesan health and education institutions, learning how they are sustaining care of the most vulnerable in these desperate times.

Speaking about the visit, Canon Rachel Carnegie said: “The experience was both heart-wrenching in seeing and hearing about the suffering, but also profoundly inspirational in witnessing the Church’s commitment to serving the most vulnerable, in sustaining lives and hope, and in speaking for peace, justice and reconciliation.

“This Holy Week, the Episcopal Church in Jerusalem continues to walk the Way of the Cross, as it perseveres with resilience and compassion to meet the needs of the most vulnerable across the Holy Land, including Gaza, through its health and education institutions… It represents the love of Jesus within this devastating time and points to Easter hope beyond the suffering.”

The conflict in Gaza continues to cause the loss of human life, suffering and devastation. On March 26, the UN Security Council called for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza and demanded the immediate and unconditional release of all hostages. It is the first time the council has called for a ceasefire since the war began in October after several failed attempts.

The Archbishop of Canterbury has also spoken out about the conflict and famine risk in Gaza. His statement on March 21 said: “If nothing changes in the war in Gaza then famine is imminent… For some it’s already too late – children are beginning to die of starvation and dehydration…”

The Archbishop’s statement also said: “As I have said before, and I repeat again now: the only effective solution to this catastrophic situation is an immediate ceasefire, the release of all hostages, and sustained humanitarian access for the provision of essential supplies and services to those in need. Another way must be found. I continue to pray for the Palestinian Christian community in Gaza and the West Bank, for the people of Palestine and Israel, and for justice, peace and security for all the peoples of the Holy Land.”

As a result of the Humanitarian Appeal supported by the Anglican Alliance consortium, funds being raised are providing vital support on the ground.

The diocese is committed to keeping children in school at this time when so many families have lost their income. Some of the funds are directed to church schools so they can help parents cover education costs.

In the West Bank, St Luke’s Hospital in Nablus and the Penman Clinic in Zababdeh are sustaining health services, using the funds from the Anglican Alliance joint appeal to provide free access to treatment for those without resources.

At the Al Alhi Hospital in Gaza City, services are being provided to the sick and injured, currently with 150 inpatients, managing 22 surgical operations and 250-300 outpatient consultations each day. The library and chapel have also been converted to accommodate patients.

Sawsan Aranki Batato, Programs Development Officer at the Diocese of Jerusalem, described how the fund is being used to provide healthcare for hundreds of those in need. She gave an example of a woman whose coronary disease was diagnosed and then treated. The loss of family income since the war meant that without this support, she would not have been able to access this care. Sawsan said: “This project saved her life, by enabling early detection and timely intervention. The funds are helping us to save the lives of so many. We are reaching the needy in marginalized areas. It is one of the most cost-effective interventions.”

A prayer shared about the conflict by Archbishop Hosam Naoum from the Episcopal Diocese of Jerusalem reads:

“O God of all justice and peace,
we cry out to you in the midst of the pain and trauma
of violence and fear which prevails in the Holy Land.
Be with those who need you in these days of suffering;
we pray for people of all faiths –
Jews, Muslims and Christians and for all people of the land.
While we pray to you, O Lord,
for an end to violence and the establishment of peace,
we also call to you to bring justice and equity to the peoples.
Guide us into your kingdom where all people
are treated with dignity and honour as your children –
for to all of us you are our Heavenly Father.
In Jesus’ name we pray.

Amen.”

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