ACTION ALERT

For Immediate Release
January 25, 2009

Help Rebuild Gaza Community Mental Health Program

Al-Awda, the Palestine Right to Return Coalition, is seeking financial donations to assist the Gaza Community Mental Health Program (GCMHP), which has suffered massive damage to its headquarters during the recent Israeli bombardment.

Help is needed urgently. At this moment in the Gaza strip, the destruction caused by the recent murderous Israeli assault has resulted in patients being out of touch with health care professionals. The victims of the recent military action are in dire need of medical assistance to deal with the consequences of war-induced trauma.

Concern has been raised among health care professionals world-wide. These professionals have called for immediate actions of solidarity to help combat the lasting impacts of murderous bombardment, ground invasion and carnage in Gaza. Those most affected in the Gaza Strip are the elderly, women and children who are at the greatest risk of long term mental health problems.

While the number of people in need of help is increasing fast, there are little resources to help. As a consequence of the continued bombardment and blockade, the Gaza Strip has witnessed a terrifying growth in mental health problems with victims suffering from stress related conditions including Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). Medical sources have even noted how some mental health workers have needed to receive counseling themselves to enable them to cope with the terrors which have been imposed upon their patients. Mental health services within the Gaza strip are "over-stretched" and lack substantial funds. Without a properly functioning Gaza Mental Health Program in the Gaza Strip, patients will continue to suffer and will remain at a great risk.

The staff of The Gaza Community Mental Health Program provide crucial and irreplaceable mental health services to thousands of Gaza residents with a special emphasis on vulnerable groups such as children, women, and victims of torture and human rights violations. For more information about the program, see http://www.gcmhp.net

How you can help: To help with the reconstruction of the Gaza Community Mental Health Program, please donate online at http://www.al-awda.org. Alternatively please address your check or money order to:

Al-Awda, PRRC
PO Box 131352
Carlsbad, CA 92013, USA

Thank you for your support.

Al-Awda, The Palestine Right to Return Coalition
PO Box 131352
Carlsbad, CA 92013, USA
Tel: 760-918-9441
Fax: 760-918-9442
E-mail: info@al-awda.org
WWW: http://al-awda.org

Al-Awda, The Palestine Right to Return Coalition (PRRC) is the largest network of grassroots activists and students dedicated to Palestinian human rights. We are a not for profit tax-exempt educational and charitable 501(c)(3) organization as defined by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) of the United States of America. Under IRS guidelines, your donations to PRRC
are tax-deductible.