For the eighth consecutive day of the Israeli military operation in the Gaza Strip, PRCS is still at its highest level of alert in the occupied Palestinian territory (oPt). PRCS remains extremely concerned over the large number of civilians wounded and killed as a result of the heavy Israeli air strikes bombardment all over the Gaza strip, and the shortage of medical supplies and relief items.
Since the beginning of the Israeli military operations, a total number of 432 Palestinians, including 74 children and 26 women, have been killed, and at least 2214 others were wounded, including 200 wounded in a critical condition. According to Palestinian medical records, at least 650 children and 314 women have need injured since the beginning of the military operation.
During the past 48 hours, the PRCS ambulances and medical teams were dispatched to at least 80 locations, where Israeli army conducted air strikes. According to PRCS records, at least, 29 Palestinian civilians were killed, including 15 children, and approximately 116 others were injuries.
Two PRCS medical personnel were injured while on humanitarian duty due to an Israeli army airstrike in Deir Al Balah area and the Ambulance was severely damaged.
Gaza Strip hospitals have suffered severe shortages of medical supplies over the past 18 months' blockade and are not equipped to receive mass casualties. Hospital Operating Rooms are overflowing, and are running out of essential medicines. Hospitals and other medical facilities are also understaffed and not able to respond to the load of injuries. Hospitals were being overwhelmed with patients and were running out of space and supplies.
Gaza Strip is densely populated. Its 1.5 million residents are already experiencing shortages in medicine and basic relief supplies due to 18-month Israeli blockade. Current prognosis is for the crisis to continue with increased casualties.
Red Crescent intervention:
The Palestine Red Crescent Society (PRCS) is responsible for the provision of relief and humanitarian services; Ambulance services (EMS), Disaster response, Primary health care and Hospital care.
Since the beginning of the Israeli offensive, around 200 PRCS volunteers, 60 medics and 120 medical staff were actively involved in providing emergency care in Gaza Strip.
According to the PRCS EMS stations records, approximately 730 persons including 204 fatalities were transported by the PRCS ambulances since the beginning of the military operation.
PRCS dispatched three ICU ambulances at the Rafah border to assist the ministry of health in transporting the wounded cases to Egypt and other Arab countries.
PRCS blood transfusion services collected around 700 blood units from several cities and villages in the West Bank. 300 blood units will be sent today through the ICRC and the other 400 units will be sent later on after testing.
Accesses
Yesterday, PRCS sent, through the ICRC, a relief convoy including 65 pallets of medical and relief items, ie surgical kits, Hygiene kits, tents, blankets, sleeping bags, kerosene stove and heaters.
PRCS President, Mr. Younis Al Khatib, travelled to Egypt to attend the meeting of the General Secretariat of the Arab Red Crescent and Red Cross organization, which will discuss the coordination of entering the humanitarian assistance to Gaza Strip and the transporting of Palestinian wounded from Gaza Strip to Egypt and other Arab countries, through the cooperation of the Egyptian Red Crescent society
Other challenges
PRCS evacuated some of its premises for safety reasons. PRCS EMS station in Gaza faces the cut of telephone network, affecting the respond of the 101 to people calls. An alternative line was organized, and the PRCS calls upon the people in Gaza city to contact the PRCS operations room in Gaza and PRCS Al Quds hospital if there is any emergency, and the telephone numbers were published in the local media agencies.
Urgent needs:
Medical Disposables and surgical kits
Medical First Aid Kits
Inter Agency Health Kits (WHO)
Hygiene and cleaning kits
Donate to alleviate the humanitarian suffering in Gaza:
PRCS launched Gaza emergency appeal 2009 that could be access through PRCS website www.palestinercs.og
Direct donations could be done through Palestine red crescent special account number 9090- 652753/513 - Arab Bank - Ramallah Al Balad Branch, Swift No. ARABPS 22090 - Correspondent Bank: CREDIT SUISSE
(HEAD OFFICE) - ZURICH CH - SWIFT CODE: CRESCHZZ80A
OUR USD ACC. # 0835080431314780
THROUGH: AMERICAN EXPRESS
SWIFT CODE: AEIBUS33 - ROUTING # 026001591
Or
Donate online through special account at Map Canada
You can donate on line by clicking on the link http://www.mapcan.org/english.html and click on ‘’donations’’, then select the button donate now of ‘’Canadahelps’’
Select ‘’Medical aid for Palestine’’, then ‘’ Emergency Campaign for Gaza’’for the fund designation and finally write for PRCS in the note section..
HQ Location: PRCS
