Personnel at the Ahli Arab Hospital off-loading the LWF medical supplies from a delivery truck. Photo: LWF Jordan
Cancer medicine and hospital supplies for the Ahli Arab Hospital in Gaza City
(LWI) - After several months of preparation and coordination, The Lutheran World Federation (LWF) has delivered the first much awaited shipment of medication and medical supplies into Gaza since the current war began. On 10 August, the Ahli Arab Hospital (AAH) in Gaza City, run by the Episcopal Diocese of Jerusalem, received the items that included medicine for cancer patients and basic hospital supplies.
The LWF has been collaborating with the Anglican hospital since early 2020. Despite periods of intense military activity around the hospital, the deadly blast killing hundreds in October 2023, and the Israeli evacuation order issued in July 2024, the hospital continues to provide life-saving treatment to people in need, albeit at reduced capacity.
Receiving the LWF consignment, an official of the hospital stated their commitment to “keep working to save the lives of thousands of sick and injured patients.” The hospital staff expressed gratitude to the LWF and its partners for the collaboration and tireless efforts of colleagues at the Augusta Victoria Hospital (AVH) in East Jerusalem and the LWF Jordan office, which procured the items and facilitated the shipment in challenging circumstances.
The LWF shipment includes medicine for cancer patients and basic hospital supplies. Photo: LWF Jordan
“When procuring the items, it was essential to take into consideration the dual-use list of the Israeli authorities. A lot of items are prohibited from being shipped into Gaza, and having one such item could have led to the cancellation of the whole shipment,” noted Ameera Khamees, LWF County Representative in Jordan. The Jordanian King Hussein Cancer Center generously contributed to the procurement of the cancer medication, whereas the overall Jordan corridor for aid delivery is coordinated with the Jordanian Hashemite Charitable Organization (JHCO).
The successful delivery comes after multiple attempts to send life-saving medication to cancer patients inside Gaza. LWF Jordan was asked to help, as coordination through the LWF Jerusalem program and AVH proved extremely difficult due to border restrictions and accessibility challenges.
The transportation was organized in close collaboration between LWF Jordan and the Augusta Victoria Hospital, and with support from Australian Lutheran World Service, the Maryam Foundation, Direct Relief and the Bank of Jordan.
