Gaza: On 25 February 2009, Dr. Younis Al Khatib, PRCS President, received a European humanitarian delegation and briefed them on the health and humanitarian conditions in the Gaza Strip following the latest Israeli aggression. The European delegation included Sir Nicholas Young, Secretary General of the British Red Cross, Ms. Moira Reddick, Head of the Disaster Management Department, as well as representatives from the German Red Cross and IFRC. Dr. Al Khatib and the delegation visited the Gaza Strip and toured PRCS branches in Gaza, Jabalia, Rafah, Khan Younis and Deir El Balah.
Dr. Khalid Jouda, Mr. Omar Al Azayza and Dr. Khalil Abu Alfool, respectively PRCS Vice-President, Administrative Manager, and Head of the Disaster and Crisis Response Unit in the Gaza Strip, briefed the delegation on the Society’s activities in Gaza and PRCS’s plan for facing the health and humanitarian consequences of the Israeli aggression. Dr. Al Khatib touched on the various services provided by PRCS to victims of the Israeli military operation, as well as the assessment of damages to Palestinian homes.
Al Khatib accompanied the delegation on visits to the six camps erected by PRCS to house Palestinians displaced following this aggression in Al Zaytoon (Northern Gaza), Al Qarn and Izbat Abed Rabbo (East of Jabalya), Al Salateen and Al Attatra (East of Beit Lahia), and Al Kholafa’a (North of the Gaza Strip). They also visited the most badly hit areas including Al Zaytoon, Al Sammana, Izbat Abed Rabbo, Al Attatra and the area adjacent to the borders in Rafah. Palestinians in these camps briefed the delegation on damages sustained by their homes due to the Israeli bombing.
Dr. Al Khatib and the European delegation helped distribute aid to Palestinians at the PRCS camp erected in Al Sammouni area in the North of the Strip. They also witnessed the damages sustained by buildings at Al Noor medical center in Gaza which was directly targeted by Israeli artillery, causing the destruction of parts of Al Quds hospital and the administrative building, which was largely burned down and will require rebuilding.
The delegation also saw the extent of damage to the PRCS central warehouses that were bombed, causing the destruction of all medical and relief items they contained.
During the visit to a number of PRCS centers including the psychological health center, the Youth and Volunteers Department’s community-based work center, and the relief aid distribution center, Dr. Al Khatib praised the role played by PRCS crews and teams. At the end of the visit, he launched a donation campaign aimed at the reconstruction of PRCS Al Quds Hospital and at increasing the number of medical specialties it provides.
Immediately following the aggression, PRCS launched a humanitarian appeal to help cover its needs in order to face the health and relief consequences of this aggression, especially following the direct targeting of its health centers, Al Quds hospital and PRCS warehouses. Moreover, PRCS mobilized all its teams in the Strip to provide assistance, relief and shelter to the homeless and displaced. In excess of 400 PRCS staff and volunteers started assessing damages sustained by homes and helping the displaced gain access to tent camps erected by PRCS.
PRCS also distributed relief items to more than 12 thousand families throughout the Gaza Strip, including plastic sheets to cover holes made by Israeli shells, food items and water, family relief kits, personal hygiene kits as well as cutlery, blankets and mattresses.
PRCS teams in the Gaza Strip continue to make great efforts in cooperation with Arab and international humanitarian organizations in order to face the health and humanitarian consequences of this latest Israeli aggression against the Gaza Strip.
HQ Location: PRCS
