The Story of Our Existence

Palestinian refugees in Lebanon suffer from difficult conditions on all social, health,security and political levels.In the 1980s, the Palestinians suffered from wars, massacres and blockades in Lebanon, which exacerbated crises, increased the risks of the Palestinian existence; increased the misery, the poverty, the fragility of society and the loss of hope. To recognize and respond to this reality, a group of initiators established the Social Welfare organization, which later changed its name to the Human Call Association that was informed and approved by the Lebanese authorities. The founders believed in their mission to develop and empower the Palestinian community in Lebanon by working on the health, social, cultural and educational fields.

The Human Call Association continued to play its national, humanitarian and moral role towards the Palestinian society and the environment, believing in its mission to achieve human development. In the midst of current circumstances, difficulties and challenges, HCA has succeeded to renew itself, to update its tools and to develop its capabilities, which enable it to strengthen its role in the society.Through “Al-Nidaa” Hospital in Ain el-Helweh camp, the HCA has strengthened its relationship with the community and the environment. Also, through its achievements, HCA promoted a system of values in the society such as the values of continuous giving, volunteerism, human rights, respect of the other and non-discrimination on the basis of sex,race, belief, or intellectual and political views, as well as showing a successful model of neutral and impartial handling in an environment full of conflicts and problems. Together, let us renew hope for a better life.

Who We Are

Human Call Association was established as a non-profit non-governmental organization in 1986, and was officially licensed by the Lebanese Ministry of Interior in 1988 under Reg. No. 62/AD. HCA works on the establishment and management of hospitals and clinics, implementation of development and service projects, in addition to capacity building programs in the cultural, social, sporting and environmental levels and through its health program and hospital named “Al-Nidaa Hospital” in Ain el-Helweh. HCA plays a very important role in achieving community health security, especially during security circumstances and emergencies. It is at the forefront and provides medical services 24 hours a day, seven days a week. The hospital has a total area of 1,254 square meters and employs 66 medical and administrative staff and and 33 volunteers to provide public health programs, first aid services, and awareness raising for local community.

Through the continuous training program, the medical staff underwent a 6-month emergency and intensive care course in 2018 in addition to management courses. HCA plays the role of legal umbrella for a number of NGOs that need security & sustainability to support the continuity of their work in some camps, e.g. (Ain el Helweh, Nahr al-Bared, Beddawi) because these institutions are unable to obtain an official license while playing an important role to serve the Palestinian society.

From the capital of the Palestinian Diaspora

Ain el-Helweh camp is the largest and least stable Palestinian refugee camp in Lebanon, where 70,000 persons are living in difficult social and living conditions, exacerbated by the infrequent armed clashes, unstable security conditions and awful human conditions. In its few main streets, cars cannot pass through, and pedestrians stumble are across each other. Damage and cracks are common in its old and contiguous houses and they are threatening them to crumble and collapse. The camp is filled with random networks of unsafe electrical wires and the hustle and bustle of the sad life. There are countless challenges facing the residents of the camp; the most important is the health factor that is a real concern for the Palestinians in Lebanon, especially with the increase in medical needs and the high number of diseases with the high cost of treatment, in addition to the fact that the patient in the camp – like all.

Palestinian patients in the rest of the camps – is forced to take a difficult path to get his treatment or surgery, especially if it is not covered by UNRWA services, and he often has to go through the doors of charities, mosques and charity workers. It is enough to visit the deprivation triangle, for example (Amqa – Manshiya – Samaria) to realize the pressure of the population of this camp. Chronic diseases are widespread among its inhabitants due to lack of adequate health environment, dark alleyways and the prevalence of poverty and unemployment factors. Hence, it was necessary to establish an association for community development and the provision of distinguished social and health services in Ain el-Helweh camp and other camps to meet the urgent human needs.

Ain El-Helweh Suffers From

66
66.4% cannot meet their basic needs
63
63% suffer from food insecurity
95
95% are without medical insurance
66
66% of their homes suffer from moisture and water leak
Source: Survey on the socioeconomic status of Palestinian refugees in Lebanon 2015 - AUB / UNRWA

Our Objectives

  • Achieving the sustainability of “Al-Nidaa” Hospital in providing distinguished medical service.

  • Strive to raise the level of medical standards to comply with the regulations of the Lebanese Ministry of Health.

  • Providing access to health care services to the most vulnerable groups in society.

  • Continuous training and development of the medical and administrative staff of the association.

  • Empowering youth and promoting volunteer culture through first aid programs.

  • Activating partnership and networking with civil society institutions in Lebanon and abroad.

  • Developing the capacities of institutions working with HCA and supporting youth initiatives.

  • Building capacity and promoting health and social awareness of the community.

  • Take effective steps to make the HCA an environmentally friendly association.