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The Palestine Red Crescent Society was established in 1968 as a national humanitarian society in response to the health and welfare needs of the Palestinian people.  The PRCS provides health, social and humanitarian services in Palestine and other Arab countries.  The services provided by the PRCS include primary and secondary health care, disaster relief, emergency medical/ambulance services, social services, rehabilitation for special needs patients, and special programs for cultural and community development.  Within the Occupied Territories (West Bank and Gaza Strip), there are 21 branches for the PRCS with the headquarters situated in Al-Bireh, north of Jerusalem.

Mandated to the PRCS by presidential decree in early 1996, PRCS has developed the Emergency Medical Services program to deliver quality services to the Palestinian population in the Autonomous/Occupied Territories (OT/AT). Since that time, the EMS department has expanded its coverage to include 12 Emergency Stations in the West Bank and five in the Gaza Strip. An additional five ambulances are being integrated into the Gaza Strip to meet the demands of the population. The department now provides training programs for the Emergency Medical Technicians, ambulance drivers and a number of other courses in collaboration with the Ministry of Health, the Magen David Adom (MDA) and relevant organizations in the field. This service is now the largest ambulance service in the area and the most efficient.

The EMS program also supports an Emergency 101 number, which systematically connects all radio communications for ambulances to the Al-Bireh Headquarters for dispatch. A nationwide campaign to promote this service and communicate the 101 number helped facilitate efficient program delivery.

The PRCS is an observer member of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent movement and therefore adheres to its fundamental principles:  humanity, impartiality, neutrality, independence, voluntary service, unity and universality.

PRCS - Lebanon Branch

In Lebanon, the PRCS was established to provide health care and social welfare services to the high number of refugees settled throughout the country.

PRCS is a recognized NGO by the Lebanese government.  It is a non-for-profit “grassroots” agency that receives funding from a number of sources, including international humanitarian organizations and governments.

As the sole health care provider for the Palestinian community in Lebanon, the PRCS operates 6 hospitals (includes emergency medical services), 13 clinics, a physiotherapy centre, a vocational training centre, a nursing institute and social welfare offices in Lebanon. The PRCS serves about 175,747* Palestinians in 12 refugee camps, 170,417* Palestinians not in the camps and some displaced Lebanese throughout the country.

(*UNRWA registered refugees - June 1995)

PRCS has extensive experience in community development work.  PRCS works with the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, MAP-UK, Norwegian People’s Aid (NPA), European Community Humanitarian Organization (ECHO) and several other local and international NGOs to improve the quality of life for those in need.

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PO Box 37011

Edmonton, AB

Canada  T5R 1E0