On 28 February 2014, the former French President, Valery Giscard d’Estaing, visited the Holy Family Hospital in Bethlehem.

Accompanied by his wife and nephew, Giscard d’Estaing was received by the hospital’s organising committee and visited the various wards, including the neonatal intensive care unit – the only one in the entire region – where premature babies or those with serious pathologies are treated.

During the course of his visit the former president and representatives of the Sovereign Order of Malta’s hospital discussed cooperation projects for the Palestinian population and communities in and around Bethlehem.

Besides providing free medical assistance for pregnant women and those giving birth, the staff of the hospital – where some 60,000 babies have been born since 1990 – carry out regular visits to the West Bank deserts to offer healthcare for those living in the surrounding villages, often without electricity or running water.