RAMALLAH, Monday, May 18, 2020 (WAFA) – Germany has recently provided 700,000 euros in donation for the Augusta Victoria Hospital in its fight against the ongoing COVID-19 coronavirus, according the German Representative Office in Ramallah.

Head of the Representative Office of the Federal Republic of Germany in Ramallah Christian Clages visited the Augusta Victoria Hospital (AVH) today to witness the efforts of the hospital to fight COVID-19, according to the statement of the representative office.

Germany supports AVH through Diakonie Katastrophenhilfe, the Protestant Agency for Diakonie and Development, and has recently provided 700,000 Euros for response to the COVID-19 crisis.

The AVH is the only specialized hospital for cancer and kidney diseases patients in the Palestinian Territories, amongst of them are 30 % patients from Gaza. Germany historically holds strong religious and cultural links to the Augusta Victoria Compound and has proven to be a reliable partner to the hospital. The Lutheran World Foundation (LWF) is running the compound.

“We are facing a pandemic”, he said, “and we must work together with strength and resilience to fight it”. He added, “I am happy that the support comes in time to help the hospital defend its staff and patients from this vicious virus and carry out its essential mandate.”

The German Representative Sieglinde Weinbrenner, LWF Representative, Jerusalem Program, stated that, “We thank Germany for the continuous support. Our cooperation touches all areas of hospital operations from technology enhancement to human resources capacity development, and comes now to the fore as we fight the pandemic”.

K.T./ K.F.