A patient on May 6 receives treatment at a rehabilitation outpatient center built by the Korea International Cooperation Agency in Ramallah, Palestine, in the West Bank of the Jordan River. (Korea International Cooperation Agency)

By Yoo Yeon Gyeong 

The Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA) on May 7 announced the opening of two rehabilitation outpatient centers the previous day that it built in the Palestinian cities of Ramallah in the West Bank of the Jordan River and Qabitiya.

Equipped with modern equipment such as a virtual reality-based walking and balancing system and a 3D interactive machine used for cognitive rehabilitation, this is the first comprehensive center of its kind in the West Bank for treatment of physical, emotional and linguistic disorders.

The centers are the results of a collaboration between KOICA and the World Health Organization (WHO) launched in 2021 to set up such facilities and reinforce related capacities in the West Bank.

Kim Minjong, country director of KOICA's Palestine office said, "To contribute to establishing peace in Palestine, Korea is working with partners such as the United Nations to offer not only humanitarian assistance but also various projects."

In its venture with the WHO, KOICA seeks to boost the mental health management of disadvantaged groups vulnerable to the situation in Palestine. With the U.N. Population Fund, KOICA is also helping a global project to prevent sexual violence and support survivors in conflict situations.

dusrud21@korea.kr