For the 18
th consecutive day of the Israeli military operation in the Gaza Strip, PRCS is still at its highest level of alert in the occupied Gaza strip.
Yesterday, the president of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), Jakob Kellenberger, visited both Al Shifa hospital and PRCS Al Quds hospital in Gaza City and witnesses at first hand the humanitarian situation in Gaza. PRCS officials in Gaza accompanied Mr. Kellenberger and brief him on the humanitarian situation in general and the PRCS' challenges in particular.
ICRC President
Mr. Kellenberger, urged the fighting parties to spare civilians and let humanitarian workers do their work. "What I saw today was shocking… It is unacceptable to see so many wounded people. Their lives must be spared and the security of those who care for them guaranteed." said Mr. Kellenberger.
He insisted that the ICRC will continue to do everything it can to help medical personnel and Palestine Red Crescent Society aid workers carry out their duties. "Palestine Red Crescent ambulance teams are putting their lives at risk every day to save the lives of others". Mr. Kellenberger added.
PRCS remains extremely concerned over the civilians' casualties particularly women, children, elderly and those with special needs, who lost their protection and human dignity by the current Israeli army aggression on Gaza strip and its excessive use of force which flagrantly violate the principle of proportionality. PRCS is also concerned over the rising number of people who are seeking refuge. UNRWA received more than 30,000 people in 36 emergency shelters.
Table of the total number of casualties: People taking refuge at UN installation
| Total number of Deaths | Children | Women | Men & Elderly | Medical Personnel |
| 980 | 290 | 113 | 564 | 13 |
| Total number of injuries |
|
|
|
|
| 4418 | 1650 | 600 | 2144 | 24 |
Please note that the casualties' numbers above are not final since there any unknown number of casualties in areas that the medical teams could not enter till the moment. Total number of deaths and injuries served by PRCS medical teams and ambulances:
Number of deaths and injuries transported by PRCS medical teams during the past 24 hours:
"The Israeli army's is targeting medical missions continuously, and hampering its access to casualties. We receive calls from the people in the isolated areas asking help. We could not respond to the calls unless coordination is made by the ICRC. We could not proceed because the Israeli army is targeting the ambulances and the medical teams. Our medical teams' life is in danger". Dr. Muhamad Awadeh, PRCS' director of EMS, said.
Medical personnel during the funeral of one of their colleague.
It is worth mentioning that out of 140 coordination requests to enter the affected areas to transport injuries, sick and women in labor, only six coordination cases were succeeded. Yesterday, PRCS requested coordination for access to four areas; only one coordination request was approved by the Israeli authorities to enter Al Sheikh Ajleen area to transport a woman in labor.
Ambulances transporting injuries to Rafah border.
"Both parties must ensure that all victims are cared for rapidly, at all times of day. In particular, the wounded must be evacuated and receive treatment… Injured people cannot wait for days, or even for hours, before being treated. The work of medical personnel must be respected – and this is not negotiable." Mr. Kellenberger, ICRC President said.
The health and environmental situation in Gaza Strip is alarming. Many wounded people are dying as a result of not accessing urgent medical attention. Many dead bodies are still scattered in the streets and under the rubbles of the destroyed houses in most of the affected areas. The inability of the medical teams to evacuate the dead led to the decomposition of bodies due to the fact that the medical teams are not able to enter these areas, despite ICRC coordination.
Situation in Gaza hospitals: All Gaza hospitals continue to partially work on back-up generators. According to ICRC sources most of the hospitals in Gaza Strip, though, continue to run on generators 24 hours a day to keep life-saving equipment operating around the clock. Al Shifa Hospital is running low on fuel, putting patients at risk, including those who are taken care of at the intensive care units.
Gaza Strip hospitals and medical premises suffer severe shortages of medical supplies 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 2267 injuries and 643 fatalities were transported by the PRCS ambulances since the beginning of the military operation.
Yesterday, PRCS distributed 100 blankets, 29 kerosene heaters and 20 kerosene lamps to Palestinian families who left their homes for safety reasons.
Three PRCS ICU ambulances were allocated to assist in transporting wounded cases from the hospitals to the Rafah border.
PRCS' challenges:PRCS evacuated some of its premises for safety reasons. Since 12 days, PRCS EMS station in Jabaliya has been evacuated for safety reasons.
Although PRCS is doing all necessary coordination through ICRC to allow the ambulances and the medical teams access some locations, but access is still viewed to be a major bearer, which is believed to cause more deaths.
Damage of PRCS premises
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: PRCS medical facilities in Gaza Strip need disposables, medicine, medical equipments, Humanitarian aid, relief items, food, water, fuel etc…for more information on the PRCS urgent needs please see the Preliminary PRCS Emergency Appeal 2009- Gaza Strip at the following link:
http://www.palestinercs.org/Reports/PRCSPreliminaryEmergencyAppeal2009GazaStrip.pdf
Donate to alleviate the humanitarian suffering in Gaza:PRCS launched Gaza emergency appeal 2009 that could be access through PRCS website
www.palestinercs.orgDirect 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..
