[EA][OPP] Invitation to the Lancet, UNRWA, WHO and IFMSA Side Event at the WHA79: Health of Palestinians and Palestine Refugees in the OPT

[IFMSA Liaison Officer for Human Rights and Peace Issues ad Interim | Rawan Al Balushi]

Dear IFMSA Members, I hope you are doing well. I am pleased to invite you to a WHA79 side event co-organized by The Lancet, UNRWA, WHO, and IFMSA on the health of Palestinians and Palestine refugees in the occupied Palestinian territory. Health of Palestinians and Palestine Refugees in the OPT: Persistent Challenges, Uninterrupted Care In the face of crisis, care does not stop. Across the Occupied Palestinian Territory, health workers continue to serve ensuring that even under the most challenging conditions, care reaches those who need it most. Date: 20th May 2026 Time: 19:00 - 20:30 Geneva Time Agenda: Attached below About the Event: Amid ongoing humanitarian challenges in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, health workers on the ground—including UNRWA and partners—have remained committed to deliver essential services. Through a “stay and deliver” approach, health services have continued to reach Palestine Refugees and vulnerable populations, demonstrating resilience, adaptability, and dedication under extreme conditions. This side event brings together global leaders, frontline health professionals, and partners to discuss how continuity of care is sustained despite immense constraints—highlighting resilience, innovation, and the importance of strong partnerships. Objectives: • Highlight the current health situation of Palestine Refugees in the OPT, particularly in the Gaza Strip. • Showcase efforts to ensure continuity of care despite ongoing challenges. • Amplify frontline voices and lived experiences from health providers. • Strengthen global advocacy and partnerships to sustain health service delivery. We highly encourage members and networks to participate and help amplify these important voices. Warm regards, Rawan Al Balushi Rawan Al Balushi, Liaison Officer for Human Rights and Peace Issues ad Interim   Tel : +968 91156648 | l...@ifmsa.org International Federation of Medical Students’ Associations IFMSA International Secretariat Meibergdreef 15, J0-208 1105 AZ  Amsterdam, the Netherlands      "Go green! Please consider the environment before printing this email. Help reduce the health impacts of climate change" Disclaimer: The content of this email is confidential and intended for the recipient(s) only. It is strictly forbidden to share any part of this message with any third party, on any platform, without the written consent of the International Federation of Medical Students’ Associations (IFMSA). If you received this message by mistake, please notify the sender of the mistake, followed by its immediate deletion.