PRCS Emergency Status Update 9/5/2023

At 02:00 of Tuesday morning (9.5.2023), Israeli Occupation Forces launched a series of Airstrikes against civilian houses in Gaza and Rafah Governorates. According to the initial reports of the Palestinian Ministry of Health (MoH), the strikes resulted in 13 Palestinian martyrs, and 19 injuries, including women and children. 

Israeli air strikes continued for the hours later, with more than 50 strikes recorded against different locations. No additional casualties were recorded. 

From the first moments of the attacks, PRCS Operations Room in the Gaza Strip was activated to monitor the situation and manage the response operations. Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Response Plan- Level (B) was activated, raising the capacities of EMS to 15 working ambulances and 37 emergency medical technicians.

PRCS was the first to arrive to the scenes. In addition to cases dealt with in the field, the Emergency Medical teams transported and dealt with 4 martyrs and 5 injuries in Gaza and Rafah governorates.

PRCS dealt with 60% of the critical cases that were transported to hospitals.

PRCS is currently assessing the situation and expected scenarios, informing and applying the emergency operating procedures, in line with the aim of ensuring business continuity and efficient response operations’ during emergencies and disasters. 

A wide number of houses were affected by the Israeli strikes, with full or partial damages.

PRCS will be conducting an assessment according to its Disaster Management Response Plan. 

Currently, PRCS Operations Room is active 24/7, and the level of emergency and response operations will be guided by the Contingency Plan, according to the field developments. PRCS maintains strong coordination with the different stakeholders, particularly Ministry of Health and ICRC. 

In the West Bank, particularly Nablus old city, an Israeli military operation took place between 07:30-09:30. PRCS dealt with 13 live ammunition cases, in addition to 3 rubber coated bullets injures and 135 gas injuries- 5 of them needed transportation hospitals (including 5 months old child), among other injuries. PRCS EMS teams faced Access challenges, as they were denied access to the area until the operation ended.