This report covers the period of 06/01/2009 (09:00am) till 07/01/2009 (09:00am)
For the 11th 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 is deeply concerned over the Israeli targeting of civilians, including medical missions, and their properties. Hampering the access of medical personnel and ambulances to casualties has led to the dying of wounded while waiting for a long time to be transported.
The situation in Gaza Strip is alarming. A large number of people left their homes for safety. Yesterday, the Israeli army attacked an UNRWA school, that was opened for hundred of families who left their homes for safety. As a result, 47 civilians, most of them children, women and elderly, have been killed and at least 25 others were injured. Moreover, two other UNRWA installations were attacked by the Israeli army, yesterday. At least 5 Palestinians were killed in both attacks.
Although all the PRCS efforts of coordination with the ICRC to allow the ambulances and the medical teams enter the certain locations to evacuate injuries and deaths, and to ensure their safety, PRCS ambulances and medical teams still have no access to many affected areas. As a result, several wounded were died while waiting the first aid medications
Today four PRCS ambulances and one ICRC vehicle entered Al Atatra area in Gaza to evacuate the injuries and deaths. It is worth mentioning that this coordination was succeeded after four days of several coordination requests which all failed.
In addition four PRCS ambulances and one ICRC vehicle tried to enter into Salah Al Dein area in Gaza city after a coordination was made with the Israeli authorities. Unfortunately, the medical teams could not enter due to the heavy bombardments in the area.
Casualties PRCS remains extremely concerned over the Israeli army excessive use of force which flagrantly violates the principle of proportionality. A large number of civilians wounded and killed as a result of the heavy Israeli air strikes and indiscriminate bombardments all over the Gaza strip.
During the past 24 hours, the PRCS ambulances and medical teams were dispatched to at least 35 locations, where Israeli army conducted air strikes, land and see bombardments. According to PRCS records, 71 deaths and 94 injuries were transported by PRCS ambulances and medical teams.
Table of the total number of casualties:
| Total number of Deaths | Children | Women | Men |
| 628 | 200 | 85 | 343 |
| Total number of injuries |
|
|
|
| 2805 | 800 | 380 | 1625 |
Total number of deaths and injuries served by PRCS medical teams and ambulances:
Situation in Gaza hospitals: Gaza Strip hospitals and medical premises have suffered severe shortages of medical supplies over the past 18 months' blockade and are not equipped enough to receive mass casualties. Hospital Operating Rooms are overflowing, and 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.
Palestine Red Crescent Intervention:According to the PRCS EMS stations records, approximately 1416 persons and 413 fatalities were transported by the PRCS ambulances since the beginning of the military operation.
PRCS DMU distributed 120 blankets, 200 liter of water, 50 Hygiene and cleaning kits to Palestinian families who left there homes for safety.
PRCS operations room in Gaza succeeded in the restoration of one family links.
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.
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.
PRCS' challenges:PRCS evacuated some of its premises for safety reasons. Since five days, PRCS EMS station in Jabaliya has been evacuated for safety reasons.
Although the PRCS is doing coordination with the ICRC to allow the ambulances and the medical teams enter these locations to evacuate injuries and deaths, and to ensure their safety, PRCS ambulances and medical teams still have no access to the affected areas, which resulted in the death of several wounded.
PRCS faces a problem in the communication networks particularly in the northern part of Gaza Strip. In addition, PRCS EMS stations in Gaza faces the cut of telephone network, affecting the respond of the 101 to people's 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.
Urgent needs: Medical Disposables and surgical kits
Medical First Aid Kits
Inter Agency Health Kits (WHO)
Hygiene and cleaning kits
Spare parts to the ambulances that received damage.
Repair and restore the damages of the PRCS premises.
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
