LocationsGaza: Rebuilding lives through service, community and employment opportunities
February 4, 2026
The grounds of Al Shifa Hospital in Gaza City. To support recovery efforts, UNDP is providing emergency employment in health care, education and the private sector.
As Gaza endured a brutal two-year war, healthcare workers shouldered a heavy weight of its trauma. Thousands of Palestinian doctors and medical students stopped their studies, and few managed to continue their education, while volunteering in health clinics and hospitals to save lives and serve their communities.
Through support to emergency employment, UNDP is providing job opportunities in health care, education and the private sector. A total of 5,947 positions were created during the war, and altogether 15,076 positions were funded over six years. This employment has helped allow individuals and families to meet basic needs, develop skills, reduce inequality and increase overall wellbeing.
At Al Shifa Hospital, the largest medical complex and central hospital in the Gaza Strip, 610 employees have been supported with emergency employment contracts, in addition to rehabilitation of infrastructure and provision of relief housing units to expand hospital facilities.
Shatha, Noor, Hamza, Mohammed and Tamer are part of a skilled and dedicated labour force ready to contribute to serving and re-building their communities in Gaza.
Shatha, 26, has a Bachelor’s degree in nursing and two children. She managed to complete her studies during the war, taking classes at the hospital while working.
“Leaving my children and coming to the hospital to study was difficult during the war. When I work, I provide patients with emotional support, not only medical treatment.”
Nurse Shatha managed to earn her bachelor's degree during the war. She hopes to complete a master’s to continue learning and providing critical care.
Shatha hopes to complete a master’s degree to continue learning and providing critical care.
Noor, 26, is a general practitioner in the pulmonology department. She was displaced to southern Gaza during the war and struggled with being far from her family.
“This opportunity has enhanced my professional career and I follow up on 25 cases each day, and sometimes more. I work as a general practitioner, often seeing patients with asthma and infectious lung diseases. The war made life difficult for people, firewood is used as an alternative to gas and it increases respiratory disease. There are also more viral infections due to crowding and difficult living conditions in tents.”
Noor was displaced to southern Gaza during the war. She now works as a general practitioner in the pulmonology department at Al Shifa Hospital.
Hamza, 30, completed his studies in Sudan in 2022 and works in the neurosurgery department.
“We have seen many difficult cases of severe head trauma. The war took everything from us and we are trying to create a new beginning and make a difference.”
Hamza, now a general practitioner, plans to become a specialist in neurosurgery.
Mohammed, 31, completed his studies at the Islamic University and works in the emergency department. Recovering from an injury himself, he is an example of how recovery is not a future concept—for Gaza’s young health workers, recovery is happening now though service, resilience and opportunity.
General practitioner Hamza plans to specialize in neurosurgery.
“We receive all types of patients in the emergency department–now we’re seeing many cases of hypertension and infections.”
In 2024, while working as a doctor, Mohammed was struck by a bullet and two bones in his leg were fractured.
“This opportunity is helping me to rebuild my life and supporting my treatment. I hope to get well soon so I can work effectively. My mobility is improving but I need more time to fully recover.”
Recovering from an injury himself, Mohammed works in the emergency department at Al Shifa Hospital.
Tamer, 28, completed his studies in Egypt and is a general practitioner.
“At the beginning of the war, my family was one of the first to be displaced to the south. Then, I spent 17 months volunteering with the emergency department. It was difficult to see all the people who needed urgent care when we lacked medical supplies.”
Tamer is committed to expanding his knowledge and pursuing a medical specialty.
“With this new contract, I started fresh in the neurosurgery department. I am planning to apply for the selection exam next month and my first priority is to become a neurosurgeon.”
After being displaced by the war, Tamer spent 17 months volunteering in the emergency department.
At Al Shifa Hospital, in addition to emergency employment, UNDP has provided medical equipment and waste disposal, and has supported the renovation of vital hospital facilities including outpatient clinics, water and electrical networks, air conditioning systems and furniture as well as mechanical repair for ambulances. Five newly installed Relief Housing Units are expanding vital hospital facilities. These initiatives are made possible through support from Denmark, Germany, Japan, Norway, Qatar, the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency, the Palestinian American Medical Association and the International Labour Organization.
Now, despite destroyed infrastructure and a devastated economy, recovery is beginning in Gaza. To kickstart economic revitalization, emergency employment is key to boosting income generation, supporting skills development and strengthening public services, including health care. These young medical professionals are a small representation of the skilled workforce in Gaza that is ready to revitalize their communities, given the opportunity.
Related
content
content
