The PCRF has worked hard to provide many sick and injured Arab children in the Middle East with specialized medical care that is not available locally. The goal of the PCRF has been to arrange cost-free treatment for sick and injured children, but unfortunately this is not always possible. In these instances, the PCRF will cover the cost of the medical care. This is a list of some of those children who have recently been provided treatment by the PCRF: (Also see Medical Projects Page for more cases treated)

Atef Makussy: 18 years, from Jebalya RC/Gaza. Shot in the neck, the PCRF helped raise money for an electric wheelchair in March, 2001.

Yousef Fathi Salim: 6 years, from Dheisheh RC/Bethlehem. The PCRF paid for his catherization and cardiac surgery at Makassed Hospital in Jerusalem in May, 2001.

Fadi Humaideah: 19 years, from Yarmouk RC/Syria. This special hardship case was sent to Iraq for life-saving kidney transplant surgery in May, 2001.

Khitam Taiser, 8 years, Nablus. The PCRF paid for her new wheelchair in July, 2001.

Yousef Fathi Salim: 6 years, from Dheisheh RC/Bethlehem. The PCRF paid for his catherization and cardiac surgery at Makassed Hospital in Jerusalem.

Taher Titi: 6 years, from Hebron. The PCRF brought him a year's supply of medicine for a chronic disease.

Iraqi girl has Neurosurgery in Amman
In April, 2007, the PCRF brought 9-year-old Riyam Shihan and her mother from Al Anbar in Iraq to Amman, Jordan for neurosurgery at the Specialist Hospital. Her treatment costs were covered by Jordanian donors. She was located in need of surgery after an accident in Iraq by American soldiers, who assisted in contacting donors in Oklahoma City and elsewhere, who contacted the PCRF about helping her.

Yazen Hijazi, 5 years, from Jericho. The PCRF paid for his cochlear implant surgery in Jordan in April, 2001.

Ayman Gahnem: 5 years, from Tulkarem. The PCRF paid for his kidney transplant surgery in Amman, Jordan in July, 2001.

Yehia Mohammed, 2 months, Jerash RC/Jordan. The PCRF paid for his open-heart surgery at Islamic Hospital in Amman, Jordan in September, 2001.

Abdullah Naser Abu Saleh, 4 days, Jerash RC/Jordan. The PCRF paid for his open-heart surgery in Amman in October, 2001.

Lena Salem Abu Dahook: 7 years, Amman. She underwent a catherization at Islamic Hospital, in Amman, Jordan in November, 2001.

Mahmoud Al-Nasser: 4 months, Zarqa/Jordan. He had a lifesaving Balloon Dialitation surgery at Islamic Hospital in December, 2001.

Widad Toufik Lubad: 7 days, Amman, Jordan. She had lifesaving open-heart surgery in Islamic Hospital in December, 2001.

Adam Tanbouz: 10 days, Zarqa/Jordan. He had lifesaving open-heart surgery at Islamic Hospital in December, 2001.

Odai Muhammed: 2 years, She had lifesaving openheart surgery at Islamic Hospital in December, 2001.


(See “Save A Child’s Heart Program” Holon)

Luai Hani Amirat: 2 years, Gaza. The PCRF paid for this child to have life-saving open-heart surgery in Tel Hashomer Hospital in Israel in May, 2001.

Ahmed Kawareh: 8 months, from Rafah/Gaza. Had heart surgery for PS in Rambam Hospital in Haifa in July, 2001.

Abed Abu Gama: 3 years, from Gaza. Had surgery to close VSDs at Schnider Children's Hospital in Tel Aviv in July, 2001.


Palestinian Refugee Treated in Lebanon
4-year-old Ouda Walid Awad from the A'edeen refugee camp in Homs, Syria had ophthalmic surgery at the Beirut Eye Speciality Center in Rizk Hospital through partial support for the PCRF on April 10th, 2005. This boy is suffering from Marfan syndrome, which also afflicts most of his other siblings and relatives. UNRWA also helped to support the medical costs of this child's treatment.

Ahmed Nasser: On April 21, 2004, the PCRF helped to sponsor the life-saving open heart surgery for the baby Ahmed Nassar, a Palestinian refugee living in the port city of Sidon in south Lebanon.  The child was suffering from an AV Canal and had surgery at Hammoud Hospital in Sidon.  The PCRF paid $1,000 for his surgery and the child is back home following successful treatment.


Fadi Humaideah: 19 years, from Yarmouk RC/Syria. This special hardship case was sent to Iraq for lifesaving kidney transplant surgery in May,2001.

Two babies Get Lifesaving Surgery in Saudi Arabia
On June 14th, 2004 two babies from Gaza, Arwa Shama and Mohammed Al Basuni, went with their mothers across the Rafah crossing to Cairo. There they got their visas to Saudi Arabia in order to travel for life-saving open-heart surgery at the Prince Faisal Specialist Hospital in Riyadh. Dr. Zohair Al Halees arranged for these two babies to get surgery for free at his center, surgery that is not available to them in Gaza. The children and their mothers tried three times to cross over Rafah border in the past, but were denied by the Israeli authorities following the new round of violence in Gaza and Jerusalem.

Injured Girl Returns Home from Jeddah, boy has surgery
On June 15th, 2004, Mariam Shakira and her mother Abeer left Jeddah, Saudi Arabia back to Gaza through Cairo following four months of medical care and rehabilitation at the Abdul Lateef Jameel Rehabilitation Center. 6-year-old Mariam is from the Maghazi refugee camp and suffered a gunshot wound to her chest, which resulted in her paralysis. There are no adequate centers in Gaza for extensive rehabilitation. 15-year-old Ahmed Abu Taha from the Rafah refugee camp was shot by soldiers in the back two years ago and was also paralyzed from the waist down. He had surgery on his bladder, according to Dr. Osama Daoud at the ALJ Center, which saved his life. The PCRF would like to thank the staff at the ALJ Center, the Palestinian community in Jeddah and Riyadh who have helped them there, and especially Mr. Mohammed Jameel, who agreed to treat these children for free at his center.

Two sick babies have life-saving surgery in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
In November, 2004, the PCRF sent Hassan Edeis, 2 years, from Dura/Hebron and Mohammed Abu Saleh (photo below), 8 months, from Nablus to Riyadh, Saudi Arabia for free life-saving open-heart surgery at the King Faisal Specialist Hospital. Dr. Zohari Al Halees provided these children expert open-heart surgery which they could not get in their country. This is part of an ongoing project between the PCRF and King Faisal Specialist Hospital to save the lives of these sick babies, we would like to thank the Palestinian community in Riyadh for helping with these poor children, as well as the office of HRH Prince Naif for issuing them visas to enter the Kingdom for humanitarian treatment.

Marwan Kattam, 8 months, from Bethlehem. She was sent to King Faisal Specialist Hospital in Riyadh for life-saving open-heart surgery in August, 2001.

Negham Qafash: 14 months, from Hebron. She was sent to King Faisal Specialist Hospital in Riyadh for life-saving open-heart surgery in August, 2001.


Boy in Syria has eye surgery
On August 1, 2005 the PCRF helped to cover the cost of ophthalmic surgery for 9-year-old Khalil Mansour from Nairab refugee camp in Aleppo, Syria. This boy was injured in his left eye by a stone when he was a child and had surgery at the Eye Speciality Center in Damascus, Syria. UNRWA and other groups also helped to pay for his surgery.



Gaza girl returns home following 6 months of treatment in Dubai
In July, Ghada Awad returned with her mother after six months of orthopedic surgery in Dubai. The girl is the last of the group of 4 Gaza kids who were sent to the UAE by the Palestine Children's Relief Fund, through the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Humanitarian and Charity Establishment. She was treated by Dr. Marc Sinclair of the Medcare Hospital, who provided extensive bone-lengthening surgery which was not available to her in Gaza. The PCRF would like to thank everyone who volunteered their time to help with Ghada and her mother, in particular the local PCRF Dubai chapter. The PCRF will be sending more kids to Dubai in the coming months for medical care and will depend on the goodwill of the community in Dubai to help care for them.

Four Injured Gaza Kids Sent to Dubai for surgery
On January 23, the PCRF sent four injured kids from the besieged Gaza Strip to Dubai in the United Arab Emirates for free medical care that is not available to them in their homeland. This is the start of a new project in treating injured Arab children in Dubai with the Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid al Maktoum Charity Establishment, a UAE charity who has arranged for the treatment for these children, as well as their logistical support. The children are 10-year-old Saeed Qandil from Maghazi refugee camp, who was severely injured by an Israeli rocket 18 months ago and will have multiple plastic and orthopedic operations. 6-year-old Ghada Awad from the Nasser area of Gaza City will have orthopedic and reconstructive surgery on her right foot. 15-year-old Khalil Kahaman from Beit Lahya lost his right hand in an accident and will be fitted for a prosthesis, and 16-year-old Orouba Ashour lost her eye from an Israeli rocket and will have surgery. It took the PCRF three months to get the kids out of Gaza and they were in Jordan for a week before traveling to Dubai. The local PCRF chapter in Dubai is also volunteering to help care for the children during their stay in the UAE.



Gaza boy Treated in Dubai
In mid-July, 2007, 6-year-old Suhail El Shanti from Gaza City arrived in Dubai in the United Arab Emirates to begin orthopedic and plastic surgery by Dr. Issam Mardini at the Emirates Hospital. This hospital has treated a few children on a charitable level from Palestine through the PCRF over the past year. This boy suffers from many orthopedic disorders, including club feet. The PCRF Dubai chapter is arranging for his care locally.

Girl travels to Abu Dhabi for surgery
On June 17th, 2007, 8-year-old Watan Saleh from the West Bank town of Jenin arrived in the UAE to start treatment on her hip. She was born with congenital hip dislocation and could not be treated locally. Watan is being treated for free by Dr. Merv Letts, an orthopedic surgeon at Sheikh Khalifah Medical Center. The PCRF chapter in Abu Dhabi is helping in her case and she is staying with relatives in Al Ain.

Injured Boy Treated in the UAE
On June 5, 2007, 17-year-old Shehadeh Zyod from a village near the West Bank town of Jenin arrived in the U.A.E. to begin having his artificial leg repaired. He was injured in 2002 by an Israeli bullet and had his leg amputated. He was treated in 2004 by the PCRF and "Healing the Children" in Arizona. He is being treated on a charitable basis by the Dynamic Rehab and Medical Equipment Centre in Sharjeh. Read news article

Boy arrives in Dubai for orthopedic surgery
In early May, 9-year-old Morad Abuaita from the West Bank town of Jenin traveled to Dubai, United Arab Emirates for orthopedic surgery that is not available to him in Palestine. This was part of an ongoing program by the PCRF and it's Dubai chapter and local health-care providers in the UAE to provide free care for Palestinian children. Several other kids have already had expert care in Dubai over the past year. He was treated by Dr. Marc Sinclair of the Dubai Bone & Joint Center at the Welcare Hospital, on services provided on a charitable level.

Burned Boy Treated in Dubai
In January, 2007, the PCRF sent 3-year-old Yousef Abu El Rub from the West Bank village of Jalaboun in the Jenin district to Dubai in the UAE for free plastic and reconstructive surgery at the Emirates Hospital. He was treated on a charitable level by Dr. Max Sawaf, the director of the hospital, and Dr. Issam Mardini. Yacoub was injured in an accident at his home and stayed with relatives in Sharjeh.

Burned Girl Goes to Dubai for Plastic Surgery
On Oct. 23, 2006 5-year-old Rawan Al Ghoul and her mother from the West Bank town of Jenin arrived in Dubai, UAE to begin treatment for plastic and reconstructive surgery on a charitable basis. She is being treated by Dr. Jaffer Khan, a consultant in plastic and reconstructive surgery there, who most kindly donated his services. Welcare Hospital in Dubai (www.welcarehospital.com) also donated their services to treat this poor child on a charitable basis. She was burned on her arms, chest, back and abdomen in an accident and could not be treated in Palestine due to the lack of such care there. This is the second child sent to Dubai this year by the PCRF and the third in the past two years.

Palestinian Boy Sent to Abu Dhabi for Surgery
On April 27, 2006, 15-year-old Mohammed Salameh from the Jenin refugee camp was sent with his mother Hiyam to the United Arab Emirate's capital of Abu Dhabi for surgery. He broke his left elbow as a small child and suffered from serious hypertension. He was treated for free orthopedic surgery by Dr. Marvyn Letts at the Sheikh Khalifa Medical City. The local PCRF chapter in Abu Dhabi cared for the boy during his treatment.

Boy Travels to Dubai for surgery
In early June, 2006, The PCRF sent 13 year-old Yousuf Halahla to the International Modern Hospital in Dubai. Yousuf is from the West Bank town of Hebron and he suffers from congenital deformities in both of his legs that cannot be treated locally. The PCRF arranged for him and his mother to travel to Dubai to receive the specialized treatment that he needed. Read News Story

Gaza Boy Denied Passage for Surgery
On April 17, 2005, 16-year-old Mohammed Tabaza from the Nuseirat refugee camp in Central Gaza was denied passage from Gaza to Egypt by Israeli occupation authorities. The boy was injured in December 2003 by an Israeli Apache helicopter attack in Gaza which killed his cousin and another man. He suffered severe injuries to his leg and his treatment was arranged by the Palestine Children's Relief Fund, an American NGO which has arranged medical care for hundreds of injured Palestinian children abroad over the past few years. Mohammed had free orthopedic surgery at the Dubai Bone and Joint Center, a highly specialized institution where he received the care that is not available to him locally. The reasons for refusing Mohammed passage from Gaza to Egypt, where he was to fly with his father to the U.A.E. was due to the fact that the boy has a metal fixator in his leg, where there is a defect in the bone as a result of his injury. He cannot remove the fixator, as it is holding the bones in place until he has surgery in Dubai. The Israeli human rights organization B'Tselem writes: "International law requires the special handling of the sick, wounded, pregnant women, and the feeble, and provides that medical teams and sick and wounded persons must be allowed to pass. By routinely restricting the freedom of movement ....... Israel flagrantly violates international law and causes grave harm to health of the residents of the Occupied Territories."

Maoudah Abdul Mahdi: 2 years, Iraq. She had lifesaving open-heart surgery to treat a VSD at Mafraq Hospital in UAE in March, 2002.