Interpal is delighted at the generous donation of the equivalent of about £157,000 made by the Republic of Korea earlier this month to the UN Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) Lebanon office. This donation is specifically for the support of relief and recovery activities for Nahr el-Bared displaced refugees. UNRWA reports that ìthrough renewed Korean support, displaced families will be guaranteed decent temporary housing, food security, and access to education and health services through early 2011. This will contribute to restoring the refugeesí dignity and help them regain hope as they await the reconstruction of their homes.

Guest of Honour was Dr Nafez Abu Shaban, Head of the Burns Unit in Shifa Hospital, the leading burns specialist in the Gaza Strip, and perhaps the world’s foremost authority on white phosphorus burns. Dr. Abu Shaban described how white phosphorus continues to burn the victims’ bodies until it is completely consumed. Dr. Abu Shaban also described the horrific phosphorus burns that many Gazans died from and hundreds if not thousands of others continue to suffer from, as well as the increase in the number of patients who suffer from serious burns due to explosions caused by kerosene lamps and crude generators. Gazans have been forced to resort to these devices given that electricity is only available for a few hours each day in the Strip.

Interpal appreciates the difficulties and the many challenges that the medical profession and medical services in the Gaza Strip face on a daily basis. Interpal is therefore committed to raise much needed funds to provide urgent medical aid to Palestinians in need especially in the Gaza Strip. Interpal calls upon its donors and supporters to please donate generously to this cause.

The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UNOCHA) in the occupied Palestinian territories (oPt) reports this week that due to an ongoing dispute between the Palestinian Authority’s Ministry of Health in Ramallah and its counterpart in the Gaza Strip, the volume of medical supplies out of stock in the Strip has increased significantly. Shortfalls of medical supplies have triggered concerns over the ability of hospitals inside Gaza to continue delivering some medical services.

Interpal is concerned at this report and would like to highlight the urgency of the situation. Raising funds for Medical Aid, especially for the Gaza Strip, will be one of its fundraising drives for 2011. The ongoing dispute emphasises the need for medical convoys to reach the Gaza Strip with supplies of much and urgently needed medical supplies and equipment. Interpal is unable to confirm participation in any European convoy for this year, but it is clear that funds for Medical Aid need to be raised in order to alleviate this humanitarian crisis. For this reason, Interpal is organising two fundraising events in the coming weeks. The Interpal Bradford office is following in the footsteps of the Birmingham office to organise a charity dinner on 19 February 2011 to raise much needed funds to provide Medical Aid in the Gaza Strip. The Birmingham charity dinner held on Saturday 29 January 2011 managed to raise about £24,000 from donors and supporters. Over the past 12 months or so Interpal has provided medical supplies and equipment delivered via medical convoys. Interpal has also contributed to a needy patients' fund in the Gaza Strip.

Show your support and bring your family and friends along. Book your tickets today to avoid disappointment.

• For more information on the Bradford event please contact Interpal's Bradford office on tel no: 01274 656 985 or mobile: 07944 708 572.

The UN Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) announced on Monday that both its country directors in the occupied Palestinian territories (oPt) have resigned. Barbara Shenstone, West Bank UNRWA Director is reported to be returning to her native Canada in a few months after four years on the job, and John Ging, Gaza UNRWA Director will be taking up his post at the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UNOCHA) in a few weeks following his promotion to the third-highest position at UNOCHA at the request of the United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon.

UNRWA Commissioner-General Filippo Grandi paid tribute to the two officials saying, “I salute the courage, strength and determination of their innovative leadership. I – and all of us – will miss them both as colleagues and for their extraordinary contributions to UNRWA and the refugees we serve.” UNRWA is yet to announce their replacements.

Interpal would like to wish the two officials the very best for the future and will miss working with John Ging in particular, having developed a close working relationship with UNRWA in the Gaza Strip.