On visiting Gaza, the Welsh group discovered the Mercedes van, fully equipped as a dental clinic, but mothballed as the NECC did not have the funds to operate it. The Church in Wales made a commitment to completely fund the running of the dental clinic, to pay the salary of the dentist and nurse-driver, and to enable patients to be treated free of charge. Over the last seven years the Church in Wales has raised £150,000 for the service.
Constantine Dabbagh, the Executive Secretary of the Near East Council of Churches in Gaza, says the escalating conflict in the region over the past week has made the role of the clinic and health centres more important than ever.
"There is no governmental dental programme in Gaza, and very little attention has been paid by people to the proper care of their teeth," he reveals. "We feel that as part of our health care, we should continue to provide dental facilities. The people of Gaza are very appreciative and thankful to the people of Wales for making the mobile dental clinic's services available to the poorest in out communities."
"But it is getting harder," Dabbagh continues, however, telling how the recent conflict has hampered the dental clinic in its service to the people in Gaza. "The situation here has been really awful and horrible lately. We, the Palestinians, are encountering difficulties as a result of the conflict between the two main rival factions."
He says that all staff members are safe and affirms that they continued to render services during the period of conflict.
Although conflict has died down, the situation for many remains difficult: "People are living under extreme hardship and poverty. They feel isolated, as if they are living in a big prison," he shares. "Under these conditions, we expect more people to turn to extremism which will result in the end in encountering more violence and instability, not only in Gaza Strip but also in the region at large.
"The work of the NECC brings Christian witness and hope to Gaza, and therefore has credibility. Muslims have great faith in the NECC. It is an injection of hope - touching people, healing them and giving them hope."
More donations from the people of Wales are desperately needed to ensure the Gaza Dental Clinic can continue to be funded.
The Archbishop of Wales, Dr Barry Morgan, says: "I have had two opportunities to see the Gaza Mobile Dental Clinic in operation, and been able to witness the way in which cash generously donated by members of the Church in Wales has made a real practical difference to the lives of the people of Gaza.
"With conditions in the area becoming more fraught by the day, it is more important than ever that we continue to support the Dental Clinic Fund, despite the fantastic sum raised so far. Apart from providing practical healthcare to people in great need, it gives them some sense of stability and hope in an otherwise chaotic landscape."
He concludes: "I therefore appeal to the people of Wales to continue to support the Fund, and to show that we care for ordinary people and families caught up in such awful terror and violence."
