JERUSALEM, August 14, 2017 (WAFA) – The United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) for Palestine refugees insisted on Monday to shut down its Qalqilya-based hospital in spite of strong protest by the Ministry of Health.

UNRWA said in a press statement that it will halt as of August 21 all non-emergency services at its Qalqilya hospital, including ear, nose and throat (ENT) treatment and the maternity ward.

It said the decision to halt all services is pending an investigation into the recent death of a child at the hospital.

All patients, meanwhile, will be directed to other UNRWA-contracted hospitals, which is a practice in line with UNRWA health service provided in all its operation areas, said the international relief agency.

“The Agency will work with all relevant stakeholders to minimize any inconvenience to Palestine refugees resulting from this redirection of services,” it said.

The Ministry of Health expressed dismay at the decision to shut down Qalqilya hospital, demanding its immediate reopening.

It said the hospital was opened by a UN decision in 1952 and that “it is the duty of UNRWA to keep it open and provide health service to Palestinian refugees as required by international laws and resolutions.”

It said Minister of Health Jawad Awwad has requested an urgent meeting in Amman, Jordan on Monday night with UNRWA’s regional medical director to discuss this matter.

UNRWA said that “intense efforts to reform the Qalqilya hospital have not been successful in the past years and the Agency is no longer able to ensure that medical services provided in the hospital meet the required health care standards.”

It said, however, that it is “committed to delivering health services to Palestine refugees in accordance with its mandate, its strategic framework and Agency-wide practices, namely through primary health care centers operated by UNRWA and referral systems for secondary and tertiary health care services.”

M.K.