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United Mission for Relief and Development & Med Global Partner to Tackle Malnutrition in Yemen

With a Focus on Pregnant and Lactating Women & Children Under Five

In a significant move to combat the escalating health and nutrition crisis in Yemen, MedGlobal and United Mission for Relief & Development (UMR) have announced a new partnership aimed at providing vital nutrition and reproductive health services to vulnerable communities in the Hais Hospital and Al-Fash Health Unit.

Dr. Abed Ayoub, UMR’s CEO and President, added, “By combining our efforts, we aim to significantly reduce maternal and child mortality and morbidity in the region. This collaboration is a crucial step towards addressing the health and nutrition crisis in Yemen.” — UMR SIDE

We seek to address the dire needs of the Yemeni population, where the ongoing conflict has devastated the healthcare system, leading to a critical situation for women, children, and displaced individuals. Over the next year, the project aims to enhance access to primary healthcare services, support nutrition services, and provide emergency obstetric and neonatal care in areas where healthcare access is severely restricted.

Dr Zaher Sahloul, President and Co-Founder of MedGlobal emphasized the urgency of the situation: “The health crisis in Yemen requires immediate and sustained action. MedGlobal has been active in Yemen since 2017 making a big difference in the lives of over 4 millions Yemenis. Our new partnership with UMR is a testament to our commitment to continue providing lifesaving assistance to those in dire need in Yemen.” — MEDGLOBAL SIDE

The project will focus on supporting primary health services, including reproductive health and nutrition in the Hais Hospital and surrounding district, ensuring the provision of nutrition health services and obstetric and neonatal emergency care in Hais referral hospital. The initiative also includes community awareness and sensitization to improve attitudes towards disease prevention, community in health system management, nutrition, and reproductive health services.

The collaboration between UMR and MedGlobal represents a crucial effort in responding to one of the world’s largest humanitarian crises, with the aim of providing equitable and safe health services to Yemen’s most vulnerable populations.

United Mission for Relief & Development (UMR) is a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization focused on providing disaster relief and recovery services to the underserved both domestically in the U.S. and internationally across the globe. Since its establishment, UMR has implemented countless projects in 35 countries worldwide.

MedGlobal is a humanitarian charitable non-governmental organization that provides emergency response and health programs to build resilience among vulnerable communities around the world. Our health programs support victims of wars and disasters, refugees, internally displaced persons, and marginalized communities in disaster-affected and low-resource settings.

Habib Rajeh, Globall Program Manager
1990 K Street NW Washington, DC 20006
(202) 370-6963
info@umrelief.org
umrelief.org
@umrelief 

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Transforming Lives Through Vital Support: UMR and Careem for Business Unite to Make a Difference

[Amman, Jordan] — A powerful partnership between UMR and Careem for Business has been forged, igniting a wave of positive change that is set to transform lives. With a shared commitment to making the world a better place, this collaboration is putting a spotlight on a cause that deeply resonates – improving the lives of kidney dialysis patients who depend on daily treatments. Together, these two entities are leveraging their resources and expertise to create a seamless transportation solution that is revolutionizing access to critical care.

The impact of this partnership is especially significant for kidney dialysis patients who rely on treatments at the Prince Hamza Hospital. Through this innovative alliance, the gap between home and medical facility is being bridged, leading to unprecedented ease in accessing vital care. With a united vision of a more compassionate and healthier world, UMR and Careem for Business are breaking down barriers and opening doors to new possibilities.

Each ride facilitated by this partnership is more than just a means of transportation – it symbolizes a lifeline infused with hope, resilience, and unwavering support. These patients, often the most vulnerable members of our community, are finding their journeys to medical care transformed into moments of positivity and promise.

Through this innovative partnership, UMR and Careem for Business are exemplifying the potential for private entities to drive positive social change. By aligning their missions, they are not only transforming the experiences of kidney dialysis patients but also setting an inspiring precedent for the broader corporate world.

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United Mission for Relief and Development (UMR) partners with MedGlobal for Palestine relief. It is a humanitarian organization that serves vulnerable people worldwide. MedGlobal provides free healthcare to refugees, displaced persons, and marginalized communities.

The Turmoil in Palestine:

(According to WFP) 32.7 percent of the population lacked access to a healthy diet. Women are more likely than males to experience food insecurity. 33.7 percent of women heading families reported food scarcity. The situation is more accurate in the Gaza strip, with 64 percent food insecurity.  

Palestinians are extremely food insecure. They experience a large consumption gap and lack the resources. These gaps come from the lack of their fundamental requirements. such as food, housing, and clothes. Due to the continuous and protracted crisis, they have already used up most of their coping methods. Which leaves them unable to close the enormous consumption gap.

Years and years of  violence have left people of Palestine in a devastating situation. Palestine continues to face significant obstacles –

• A protracted conflict
• Economic stagnation
• Trade restrictions, and
• Limited access to resources.

These obstacles bar them from achieving sustainable developments. Among these developments are ending hunger, ensuring food security, and improving nutrition.

Focus of Partnership:

The partnership focuses on facility-based healthcare services in Gaza. UMR and MedGlobal coordinate with the Ministry of Health to deploy healthcare professionals. This partnership aligns with UMR’s mission to address the dire healthcare needs in Gaza.

Approximately 1.5 million people in Gaza lack consistent access to healthcare. As a result, health benchmarks are deteriorating. 80% of Gazans are below the poverty line. Our objectives are to improve the health of the Palestinian people in Gaza and their quality of life. The nature of Palestine relief in Gaza comes in three categories:

1) Lack of protection and displacement;

2) Limited access to essential services; and

3) Erosion of resilience and preparedness.

Sufferings of people in Palestine:

As it stands, 55.7% of elderly patients in Gaza suffer from three or more diseases. Additionally, one-third of older individuals need access to healthcare services. The UMR and MedGlobal partnership expands healthcare and medical service outreach.

About UMR and MedGlobal:

UMR is a registered 501 (c) (3) nonprofit organization. Its headquarter is in Washington, DC. The organization provides disaster relief and recovery services worldwide.

MedGlobal is a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. It focuses on providing life-saving care. The organization deploys local partners and medical providers with training and supplying hospitals.

UMR and MedGlobal aim to provide sustainable development as a Palestine relief program. Our prerogative is to make sure the civilians get proper access to healthcare and medical services.

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We are one of the few medical teams that the Bangladeshi government has given permission. This means that we can treat young children. Otherwise, they would get easily preventable diseases like the flu. These diseases can kill people in camps. 

We coordinate with Bangladeshi NGOs for medical staff and logistics support. They give us access to the internal parts of the camp. This project is being run with the help of meetings of the UN’s health cluster and volunteer doctors hired through IMANA.

The Sufferings of Rohingyas

This project, Ambulatory Clinics for Rohingyas, has been running since 2017. It has served hundreds of thousands of Rohingya. Cox’s Bazar, Bangladesh is home to more than 800,000 Rohingya refugees. They were forced to flee their home due to a violent government crackdown in Myanmar in 2017. 

This area is more densely populated than some of the largest cities in the world. The majority of the refugees living there lack access to healthcare, proper sanitation, and decent living conditions. With the onset of COVID-19, experts are predicting that:

“This pandemic could set Bangladesh back by decades.”

Families live with up to 10 people in one room in the sweltering heat. It is impossible to maintain social distancing. With numbers upward of 19,000 confirmed cases of the virus in Bangladesh, it is only a matter of time before it spreads throughout the entire camp.

Overcrowding is a problem in itself. But many refugees who fled persecution in Myanmar have also health problems. On top of that, many haven’t gotten the standard vaccinations. It puts them at an even higher risk of contracting COVID-19. 

We have introduced Ambulatory Clinics to provide healthcare for the Rohingyas residing in Bangladesh. In order to reduce their misery and keep them safe from diseases like Covid-19. It is a significant project of ours.

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• Cox’s Bazar, Bangladesh is currently the largest refugee camp in the world.
• Rohingya Refugees are in need of international protection and humanitarian help.

The plight of Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh, Cox’s Bazar is immense right now.

Who are the Rohingya Refugees?

UN Secretary-General António Guterres described the Rohingya as, “one of, if not the, most discriminated people in the world.”

Rohingya Muslims are one of the many ethnic minorities in Myanmar. However, in 2017, there was an extreme government crackdown. And Rohingya Muslims had to leave Myanmar to protect themselves from violence. The vast majority fled to Bangladesh, where they now live in tightly packed refugee camps. 

Rohingya Refugee Emergency at a Glance

Rohingya refugees are straining services and resources as the emergency and pandemic continue. According to the UNHCR;

Population 

Approximately 671,000 Refugees settled in Cox’s Bazar district since 2017

Shelter

Materials like bamboo, rope, and tarpaulins have been used to build more than 50,000 shelters. 75% of families share households/shelters

Congestion 

93% of refugees live below UNHCR’s emergency standard of 45 square meters per person

Natural Disaster Risks

Tropical monsoon climate weathers Cox’s Bazar. The area is prone to natural disasters because the weather changes with the seasons. From November to March, it is dry, and from April to October, it rains 72% of the time.  Cyclones may also hit Cox’s Bazar.

Landslides 

Over 23,000 people are at risk of serious landslides

Floods 

Over 400 hectares of flood-prone areas in Bangladesh. Floods affecting nearly 80,000 people

Public Health Services 

There are 149 clinics and 20 vaccination centers in Bangladesh’s Rohingya Refugee sites. As the pandemic gets worse, there are more deaths and diseases. There are a lot of respiratory infections and diarrheal diseases, like cholera, hepatitis E, and measles.

Nutrition & Food Security 

Acute malnutrition and anemia are common in 6-59-month-olds, exceeding the emergency threshold.

Water & Sanitation 

They need longer-term and sustainable sanitation solutions There are 7,275 hand pumps in the refugee campsites,

• 80% functional hand pumps.
• 99% of refugee populations live within 200 meters of functioning hand pumps.
• 3,275 of the hand pumps are in landslide or flood-prone refugee campsites.
• Escherichia coli has spread to 42% of water samples (Dec 2017).

UMR Interventions

UMR, in coordination with partners, works to provide ambulatory medical care to Rohingya refugees. Bangladesh has authorized very few medical teams and we are one of them. The government lets us treat young children who would otherwise get diseases that are easy to avoid. Such as the flu, which is lethal in camp settings. 

We coordinate with Bangladeshi NGOs for medical staff and logistics support to gain access to the internal parts of the camp. UN’s health cluster and volunteer doctors hired through IMANA is running this project.

Since its beginning in 2017, our project has helped many Rohingya refugees.

As COVID-19 spreads, experts expect that:

“This pandemic might give Bangladesh a decades-long setback.”

Families live with up to 10 people in one room in the sweltering heat, making social distancing impossible. 

With numbers upward of 19,000 confirmed cases of the virus in Bangladesh, it is only a matter of time before it spreads throughout the entire camp. 

Click to Read More:

• UNHCR – Rohingya Emergency 2020
• UNHCR  – Rohingya Refugee Emergency at a Glance
• HRW – “Bangladesh is Not My Country” – 2018

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Cataract Missions – Life with Blindness

Cataract accounts for 30%-50% of blindness in most African and Asian countries. In impoverished countries, eliminating blindness and repairing vision returns four times the investment. This places eliminating avoidable blindness among the most effective interventions available. Cataract surgeries are life-changing and require no follow-up visits.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO) “Cataracts are the primary cause of blindness and visual impairment. It has about 20 million cases and 5 million new cases each year.”

Life With Hearing Loss and Deafness

Loss of hearing can happen for many reasons. Such as –

• Genetic Causes, 
• Complications At Birth, 
• Certain Infectious Diseases, 
• Chronic Ear Infections, 
• The Use Of Particular Drugs, 
• Exposure To Excessive Noise, and 
• Aging.

Loss of hearing means that you can’t hear as well as someone with normal hearing. It means that your hearing level is at least 25 dB in both ears. Loss of hearing can happen in one or both ears. This makes it hard to understand words or hear loud noises.

Hard of hearing means hearing loss ranging from mild to severe. Hard-of-hearing people communicate using :

• Spoken language, 
• Hearing aids, 
• Cochlear implants, and 
• Other equipment.

Deafness is profound hearing loss. It implies very little or no hearing in an individual. They often use sign language for communication.

• 60% of hearing loss is because of preventable causes, in children under the age of 15.

• 1.1 billion individuals are at risk of hearing loss due to exposure to high noise. High risk for ages between 12–35 years.

• Over one-third of people over 65 years of age are affected by disabling hearing loss. Greater prevalence in South Asia, Asia Pacific and sub-Saharan Africa.

• The current production of hearing aids meets less than 10% of the worldwide need.

UMR Interventions

Since 2016, UMR has sent cataract surgery missions to Kenya, Jordan, and Bangladesh. UMR provides quality medical care to the elderly, disabled, refugees, and vulnerable. Many of them live without family or government support. We have helped them by healing curable blindness. Our kind contributors have funded over 1,000 cataract procedures. In this process, we have collaborated with partner NGOs and Ministries of Health. Our $100-per-eye operations are 100% successful with no problems.

Since 2016, UMR has sent cataract surgery missions to Kenya, Jordan, and Bangladesh. UMR provides quality medical care to the elderly, disabled, refugees, and vulnerable. Many of them live without family or government support. We have helped them by healing curable blindness. Our kind contributors have funded over 1,000 cataract procedures. In this process, we have collaborated with partner NGOs and Ministries of Health. Our $100-per-eye operations are 100% successful with no problems.

Hearing Aid in Palestine/Jordan

UMR partnered with Community Rehabilitation Centre for the Disabled/Gaza camp (CRCD) – UNRWA. Our aim is to integrate disabled people into their communities. Also, we are trying to improve their living conditions. The center assisted UMR with its local program team and project need assessment. Phonak Jordan performed all medical exams, measurements, and modeling before distributing the hearing devices and gave UMR a considerable discount. It offered 2 years of device maintenance and monitoring in Jordan.

UMR’s Hearing Aid project helps Palestinian refugees in Gaza/Jerash camp and Syrian refugees in random camps in Al-Mafraq. We have helped people with no health benefits and social security numbers.

Lastly

When thousands of people in a community suffer from health issues, it can be nearly impossible for a society to grow and become self-sustainable. At UMR, we believe that in order to improve the quality of life in a community, everyone must have access to primary healthcare. That’s why we have launched this cataract & hearing aid mission.

As we continue our mission to help beneficiaries, we will be providing free cataract surgeries and hearing aids to as many people as possible.

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