The Palestine Red Crescent Society (PRCS), part of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement, is an officially recognized independent Palestinian national society. The Red Crescent first established its presence in Palestine in 1910, with the opening of its session in Jerusalem. In December 1968, the Palestinian Red Crescent Society was formally established in Jordan to serve Palestinian refugees and communities and cater to their health needs.
To this day, the Society plays a critical role in providing humanitarian assistance and social services as well as health care to Palestinians in Palestine as well as in the diaspora. In 2006, the PRCS was recognized as a full-fledged member of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies.
The PRCS branch in Jerusalem, established in 1951, is considered one of the first Palestinian humanitarian institutions. According to the PRCS website, “The branch offers social and humanitarian care for the needy and poor people and the families of martyrs and detainees and establishes hospitals and emergency centers.”1
PRCS Jerusalem has established and runs:2
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A 40-bed maternity hospital, the Palestine Red Crescent Society Maternity and Obstetrics Hospital
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A clinic for childhood vaccinations at Herod’s Gate in the Old City
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A clinic for women and children and dental care at ‘Aqabat al-Khalidiyya in the Old City
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An ambulance service with nine ambulances that can handle 400 cases a month