Dr. Eyad El Sarraj Meets UNRWA Commissioner General in Gaza

Dr. Eyad El Sarraj – President of Gaza Community Mental Health Programme – met in his office at GCMHP headquarter, Mr. Flippo Grandi, UNRWA Commissioner General, Mr. Dustin Okazaki, Special Assistant to the Commissioner General, and Ms. Stephanie Fox from UNRWA. At the beginning of the meeting, Mr. Grandi expressed how much he was so keen to meet with Dr. El-Sarraj in his first visit to Gaza to be briefed on the latest developments of the conditions in the Gaza Strip.

Dr. El Sarraj pointed out the conditions in Gaza regarding the political affairs and how much they affected people in Gaza leading to the increase of frustration and feeling of fear from the future due to anticipating war. In addition, Dr. El Sarraj referred to the Palestinian division and the outstanding national reconciliation as a result of the intervention by external  powers, in which he pointed out how all these conditions led to the appearance of social problems such as drug addictions among the Palestinian youth due to lack of job opportunities. He called on the Palestinians to steadfast on their lands and not to think about other means such as immigration.

Dr. El Sarraj also discussed with the guest delegation the importance of approaching Hamas and the government in Gaza confirming that time had come to work together as Palestinians for our cause and people, stressing the necessity for not hanging  hopes on USA  and Israel and to extend our hands to all those who believe in justice all over the world, including the Jews.

Dr. El Sarraj also talked about the importance of education and encouragement of scientific thinking in building a new Palestinian generation, away from violence and extremism, providing the new generation with a scientific thinking base and be able to steadfast on their land, through improving their capabilities by education. He also clarified the importance of taking care of our children in our society and providing them with the best health care, appropriate environment, and education. In addition to respecting them and their rights, guaranteed by International Conventions, as it is important in building the Palestinian society on sound basis because the child of today is that of the future.

Furthermore, Dr. El Sarraj praised the role played by UNRWA, especially efforts made by Mr. John Ging in working on developing the students' capabilities and improving their educational performance.

On his part, Mr. Grandi stressed the importance of education in changing false thoughts, pointing out that UNRWA during its work in the refugee camps and by providing its services in the field of education, aimed at developing the capabilities of the children at schools. In this regard, Mr. Grandi also mentioned that UNRWA aimed at adopting new programs and methods to work with youth and the next generation, a matter that he called for in his first speech. Mr. Grandi also called on decision makers to allow the Palestinian refugees achieve the right of return.

At the end of the meeting, Dr. El Sarraj sent a message through Mr. Grandi to Mr. Ban ki Moon, UN Secretary General, in which he called on him to keep adherent to the United Nations principles and international laws and not to be biased to any party, except justice.

Dr. El Sarraj presented some books to the guest delegation published by GCMHP and in cooperation with human rights organizations in Israel, pointing out that such cooperation has a great importance in working together with the enlightened minority in Israel for achieving peace and justice.

Gaza Community Mental Health Programme