GAZA/RAMALLAH, March 24 (Xinhua) -- The spread of COVID-19 in the West Bank and Gaza Strip has pushed the Palestinians to present various initiatives of social solidarity that aim at easing the impact of the crisis.

The initiatives, launched by individuals, groups or civil society organizations, coincided with the tightened precautionary measures taken by the Palestinian Authority to contain the spread of the virus.

Bakker Qaoud, a pediatric neurologist who treats critical cases at one of Gaza City's hospitals, announced on Monday his willingness to provide free medical services and advice to patients unable to go to hospital for treatment.

"I'm even ready to visit patients at home at any time they need," Qaoud told Xinhua, adding his initiative came in the light of the hard living conditions of the population in the Gaza Strip.

This initiative aims "to protect patients, mainly children and the elderly as well as ordinary people from being infected with COVID-19, especially after two cases were recorded in Gaza on Saturday," he noted.

"Patients with various diseases and illnesses can contact me by phone for medical consultation or any help they need round the clock," said Qaoud.

Eassam Abu Taha, a businessman from the southern Gaza Strip town of Rafah, decided to finance meals for those who are under quarantine in various schools and medical centers across the Gaza Strip.

Over the past two weeks, Hamas, which rules the Gaza Strip, has placed hundreds of passengers who returned through Rafah border crossing with Egypt under quarantine at schools, hotels and medical centers for 14 days.

"Delivering meals to people is to ease their conditions at quarantine centers and strengthen social solidarity in the Gaza Strip. It is so important in such difficult circumstances that we are passing through," said Abu Taha.

"Around 1,300 people are held at 17 different mandatory quarantine centers all over the Gaza Strip for 14 days to ensure they are free of coronavirus," Majdi Dheir, director of preventive medication in the Gaza Health Ministry, told Xinhua.

Two arrivals in Gaza through Rafah border crossing from a visit to Pakistan were infected with the virus and put under quarantine at the crossing point, Dheir said.

Tamer Mansour, who owns a factory that produces sanitation materials and cosmetics, delivered packs of sterilizers, antiseptics and alcohol to the two patients infected with the coronavirus.

"The delivery of these materials is part of the social solidarity and responsibility to back the people in times of crisis, especially in the hard humanitarian situation we are passing through in Gaza," Mansour told Xinhua.

Various groceries, vegetable and fruit stores delivered food to hundreds of people under quarantine, while women and mothers inside the quarantine centers received flowers and roses.

Ibrahim Melhem, spokesman of the Palestinian government, told reporters in Ramallah on Monday that Israel had transferred 25 million U.S. dollars to the Palestinian Treasury as part of the 300-million-dollar tax revenues Israel has been withholding for several months, in order to help the Palestinian government combat the spread of the COVID-19 in the West Bank.

Earlier this week, Qatar donated 125 million dollars for humanitarian projects in the Gaza Strip to help combat the coronavirus, according to a statement issued by the office of Hamas chief Ismail Haniyeh.

In the West Bank, several popular initiatives of social solidarity were also launched as people delivered meals to those staying in different quarantine places.

Others began to sterilize roads and streets as well as government establishments and restaurants. Besides, they launched social media campaigns to educate people about the virus and how to curb it.

Raed Debei, a social media activist from the northern West Bank city of Nablus, said the campaigns on social media have grown since the first COVID-19 case was recorded.

Palestine so far has recorded 60 cases of the novel coronavirus, including two in the Gaza Strip. Enditem

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