ACRI Petitions for Health Clinic in Unrecognized Bedouin Village

ACRI together with Physicians for Human Rights and the Regional Council for Unrecognized Villages in the Negev submitted a petition to the Supreme Court last month demanding the construction of a health clinic in the unrecognized Bedouin village of Tel Al-Melach. The 1,500 village residents and residents of the surrounding areas do not have access to a health clinic, despite the Health Ministry’s commitment to set up a health clinic for this community, a declaration made in response to a previous ACRI petition. The closest clinic to Tel Al-Melach is located 12-15 kilometres away, accessible mostly by unpaved roads and without the possibility of public transport. In effect, it takes about two-and-a-half hours to reach the clinic without a car, which hinders people from seeking appropriate medical care and gravely endangers residents’ health and well-being.