MCI (Maemuna Center Indonesia), in collaboration with AWG (the Aqsa Working Group), initiated the construction of the Indonesian Mother and Child Hospital in Gaza, Palestine.

Jakarta (Indonesia Window) – Responding to the emergency situation in Gaza, Maemuna Center Indonesia (MCI), and the Aqsa Working Group (AWG), have initiated the construction of the Indonesian Mother and Child Hospital (IMCH) in Gaza, Palestine.

The initiative was carried out as an effort to respond to the prolonged conflict experienced by the people of Gaza who suffered great losses in vital infrastructure, including housing, places of worship, and health facilities.

The Chairperson of the Maemuna Center Indonesia (MCI), Onny Firyanti Hamidi, emphasized that the construction of the IMCH in Gaza is a form of concrete concern for the conditions of women and children who suffer the most from the Israeli zionist aggression.

"According to the report of the UN Human Rights Commissioner in November 2024, around 70 percent of the victims of the genocide were women and children. Many mothers were forced to give birth without anesthesia, and children had to undergo amputations without painkillers," Onny Firyanti Hamidi told a press conference at the parliament building in Jakarta, Friday.

This is a humanitarian crisis that requires an immediate response, Onny explained.

The latest data shows that since October 7, 2023, the death toll from the zionist Israeli genocide aggression has reached 48,440 people, while the number of injured has reached 111,845 people, with the majority of victims being women and children.

In addition to the loss of life, the aggression also triggered mass displacement. More than 1.93 million Palestinians were forced to flee due to the destruction of their homes and residences, which includes more than 85 percent of the total population of Gaza.

Since the start of the aggression, around 100,000 Palestinians have been forced to leave Gaza, making this the largest mass exodus since the Nakba (catastrophe) in 1948.

This condition is exacerbated by the limited supply of humanitarian aid due to the blockade by Israel, which has caused shortages of food and medicine for around two million Gazans.

In the current conditions, access to adequate medical services is very difficult to reach, while hospitals in Gaza have been targeted by attacks, while medical personnel have also become victims.

The ceasefire agreement that came into effect on January 19, 2025 is expected to stop the violence and provide space for humanitarian recovery efforts, including the restoration of the health system as a top priority.

However, the long-term impact of this aggression would continue to be felt by the people of Gaza, who have lost their homes, families, and future.

Unfortunately, until now, there has been no special hospital that specifically handles the medical needs of mothers and children in Gaza or in Palestine as a whole.

As a philanthropic institution that focuses on women's struggles for Al-Aqsa and Palestine, Maemuna Center Indonesia sees this urgent need as a call to action.

"We are committed to building the Indonesian Mother and Child Hospital in Gaza as a real solution to improve health services for mothers and children in Gaza. This hospital will provide comprehensive health services for pregnant women, breastfeeding mothers, and children who need quality post-conflict medical care," Onny added.

Presidium of the Aqsa Working Group (AWG), Rifa Berliana Arifin stated that the construction of the Indonesian Mother and Child Hospital (IMCH) in Gaza is not just a humanitarian project, but a great mandate that we must realize together.

He emphasized that the IMCH in Gaza will be a new hope for women and children who are most affected by war.

"With adequate medical facilities, we can save more lives and give them the opportunity to survive and rise," Rifa said, inviting all Indonesian people, humanitarian organizations, and the global community to unite in this noble mission.

"Every prayer, every concern, and every donation you give is a real proof of solidarity. Don't let them fight alone. Together, we can build this hospital and become part of the history of the Palestinian people's struggle," he remarked.

Based on the strategic location and government support in efforts to realize this project, Maemuna Center Indonesia (MCI) and Aqsa Working Group (AWG) have formed a planning team and established coordination with the Palestinian Ministry of Health in Gaza.

The Indonesian Mother and Child Hospital will be built on 5,000 m² of waqf land provided by the Palestinian Ministry of Health. Its location is near the Al-Rantisi Children's Hospital in Gaza City.

The Indonesian Mother and Child Hospital (IMCH) in Gaza will consist of four floors, including the basement, with a total building area of ​​10,310 m².

The construction of the IMCH in Gaza is also part of the Joint Campaign to Raise Humanitarian Aid for Gaza launched by the Indonesian Ministry of Foreign Affairs with the support of the Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI), the National Zakat Agency (Baznas), and more than 30 Indonesian humanitarian organizations.

This campaign is a symbol of the government's commitment together with Indonesian humanitarian organizations in strengthening solidarity and real action to support the Palestinian people.

The construction of the ICMH in Gaza will involve a team of experts who are experienced in humanitarian hospital projects, including Ar. Riza A Chairil, IAI - Architect and Ir. Edy Wahyudi - Former Site Manager of the Indonesian Hospital in Gaza.

Previously, late Nur Ikhwan Abadi was involved as one of the planning team.

He was a figure who has contributed greatly to the development of humanitarian projects, including the Indonesian Hospital in Gaza, Palestine, and the Indonesian Hospital in Rakhine, Myanmar.

Nur Ikhwan Abadi passed away on Saturday afternoon, November 30, 2024 in a road accident on the Cipali Toll Road. His passing left a deep loss for the humanitarian struggle, especially in the mission of supporting the Palestinian people.

Currently, the IMCH Development Team in Gaza has completed the initial planning drawings and is carrying out further coordination with the Palestinian Ministry of Health in Gaza.

In the future, in addition to conducting surveys, both the special development team, MCHI and AWG will strive to continue to conduct socialization and coalitions, both to the government, institutions and the entire Indonesian people.

Through the construction of the Indonesian Mother and Child Hospital in Gaza, MCI invites all Indonesian people to contribute to this real action.

Every assistance, no matter how small it would be, is a symbol of the Indonesian concern for the Palestinian people, especially mothers and children. Currently, mothers and children in Gaza are struggling without proper medical facilities.

They need our helping hand to get their basic rights: health and safety. Together, we can be part of the history of humanity. Together, we build hope amidst the ruins of destruction.

Maemuna Center Indonesia (MCI) is a philanthropic foundation that focuses on women's struggle for Al-Aqsa and Palestine, under the auspices of the Palestinian institution Aqsa Working Group (AWG).

The name Maemuna is taken from one of the companions of the Prophet Muhammad Shallallahu `alaihi Wa Sallam (peace be upon him), Maemuna, the only woman who narrated the hadith about Al-Quds.

The foundation was established in late 2019 and is based in Indonesia’s Cimanggis sub-district, West Java province.

Through the construction of the Indonesian Mother and Child Hospital (IMCH) in Gaza, Maemuna Center Indonesia (MCI) hopes to provide a real contribution to the recovery of maternal and child health conditions in Palestine and strengthen global humanitarian solidarity in supporting the rights of the Palestinian people to obtain decent health services.

Reporting by Indonesia Window