For over 40 years, Medical Aid for Palestinians has been working to improve healthcare for all Palestinian people. When war broke out between Israel and Hamas in the fall of 2023, CEO Melanie Ward knew that her organization would need to respond to the crisis. Ward and her team immediately sprang into action following Hamas’ attack on Israel on Oct. 7, distributing over $500,000 worth of medical supplies in Gaza in anticipation of an Israeli response.
Since then, Medical Aid for Palestinians has continued to provide essential items such as food, hygiene kits, blankets, mattresses, and over $7 million in medical supplies to those in need in Gaza. The organization has also sent six teams of international healthcare workers into Gaza to support local doctors who are overwhelmed by the large numbers of injured individuals and the limited number of functioning hospitals. Despite the challenges faced by its local staff, Medical Aid for Palestinians remains one of the few international aid groups with a physical presence in northern Gaza, the hardest-hit area.
Ward’s role in this crisis involves both strategizing the organization’s response and advocating for support from world leaders. Ward and her team have briefed King Charles III, Members of the U.K. Parliament, and U.N. representatives on the situation on the ground in Gaza. Ward emphasizes the importance of bearing witness to the crisis in addition to providing direct aid. She believes that it is crucial for global leaders to see firsthand what is happening in Gaza so that they can make informed decisions about how to support the Palestinian people.