We at CF Europe remain committed to advocating for the right to health and well-being of individuals living with Cystic Fibrosis (CF) across borders. We witness everyday how the advocacy efforts of the global patient community lead to tangible improvements in the lives of individuals with CF. We saw the global CF community coming together with people with CF affected by the war in Ukraine and now standing in solidarity with those in the Middle East. Together, despite unimaginable challenges, we are already building a future where everyone with CF, regardless of their circumstances or location, has access to the care and resources they need to live their best life. 

 

Our organization has continued to pay attention to how the escalation of violence in the past five months has affected people with CF in Israel and Palestine, striving to understand how best to offer our support. 

We understand from the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation of Israel, our member organisation, that in Israel medical services continued to work and they have been supporting patients and their families, who have been evacuated from their homes in conflict regions near the Gaza and the Lebanon borders.  

Being informed about the catastrophic situation for people with CF in Gaza and the West Bank by our local contacts, this week we took a step forward by addressing the European Commission directly. We wrote a letter illustrating the unique challenges faced by those with CF in Palestine even before October 2023 and how the situation has deteriorated in the past five months.  

We urged the President of the European Commission, Ursula Von Der Leyen and the High Representative of the EU for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Josep Borrell, to prioritize the right to health for people with CF, as well as those with other rare diseases, chronic conditions and disabilities, living in Palestine.   

We believe it is imperative to demand an immediate ceasefire and that action is taken to ensure access to water, food, lifesaving treatments and medical care for those in need. We urged the European Union to continue to use its influence and diplomatic channels to facilitate the delivery of humanitarian aid and medical supplies to Gaza and the West Bank, and to support efforts towards a lasting and sustainable resolution to the conflict.  

We asked to explore the possibility of an humanitarian corridor between Egypt and Palestine to allow vulnerable people with disabilities, rare and/or chronic conditions, including people with CF, to be able to leave and get immediate access to care.   

The letter to the European Commission can be found here: Urgent Appeal_Critical situation for people with CF in Gaza and the West Bank

If you wish to support our fundraising campaign to provide essential support to people with CF in Gaza please make a donation today and help us spread the word.