Shells Hit Gaza City Medical, Aid Facilities

As fighting intensified, a hospital in Gaza City, run by the Palestine Red Crescent Society (PRCS), was hit by explosions causing fire on Thursday. Medical staff were treating almost 100 patients at the Al-Quds Hospital in Gaza when the shelling occurred.

After the explosion, the second floor of the hospital immediately caught fire. The hospital’s pharmacy was also partly damaged. Fire trucks, escorted by ICRC teams, rushed to the scene and managed to put out the fire. In addition to the hospital, a PRCS warehouse filled with relief supplies was also hit and caught fire.

“It is unacceptable that wounded people receiving treatment in hospitals are put at risk,” said Jakob Kellenberger, ICRC president, who just completed a three-day visit to the area. He insisted that all parties to the conflict must comply with international humanitarian law which mandates parties to a conflict spare civilians and protect medical personnel and medical facilities at all times.

Medical and humanitarian facilities are becoming more and more exposed to the effects of the fighting, according to the ICRC. “These recent developments are particularly alarming in that the Gaza hospitals are already overcrowded and overstretched, and the number of casualties is growing,” said Kellenberger.

To free up beds for the steady flow of new patients, Gaza hospitals are transferring seriously wounded patients into Egypt. The ICRC has also escorted trucks distributing nearly 4,000 gallons of fuel to hospitals in Gaza City and in the southern Gaza Strip to power generators. Meanwhile, damaged power lines continue to put water pumping stations, wastewater treatment facilities, and other civilian infrastructure at risk.

The American Red Cross has contributed $250,000 to the ICRC and $250,000 to the PRCS in support of their efforts to address the increasing humanitarian needs for medical support, hospital supplies, and relief distributions.Part of the assistance to the PRCS was used to purchase an ambulance. Assistance has also been offered to the Magen David Adom, the Red Cross equivalent in Israel, if the need arises.

Forum on International Humanitarian Law and the Gaza Conflict

 

Photo Credit: REUTERS/Ismail Zaydah, courtesy www.alertnet.org

The American Red Cross, Greater Richmond Chapter is proud to present the first of a series Protecting Innocents: The Role of the Red Cross During Armed Conflict.  The discussion will take place 10:00 am -12 noon, January 19, Ellison Hall at Virginia Union University, 1500 North Lombardy Street, Richmond. The event is an effort by the Red Cross to bridge communities and through dialogue bring about a better understanding international humanitarian law. It is also a recognition of the birthday of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., upholding his commitment to compassion, the humane treatment of others, and ultimately bridging the global divide.  

 

The forum will feature speakers from the Richmond community, and will discuss the role of neutrality, the challenges of working in areas of armed political conflict, and how the organization’s commitment to neutrality enables the Red Cross to care for civilian victims of armed conflict across the world.  For more information, call Tiffany Mansfield at the Red Cross, 343-2085.

Red Cross sends more aid to the Middle East

The American Red Cross is contributing $250,000 to support the work of the Palestine Red Crescent Society (PRCS) to address the growing humanitarian needs from the conflict in the Gaza Strip. This aid follows a $250,000 donation to the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) earlier this week.

“The American Red Cross contributions will go to support our Red Cross and Red Crescent partners on the ground who are working in dangerous situations, treating hundreds of injured, and delivering urgently need supplies,” says David Meltzer, Senior Vice President of International Services at the American Red Cross.

In Gaza at Shifa Hospital, our Red Cross and Red Crescent partners report that the influx of wounded patients remains significant. Medical staff continue to work around the clock and are very tired and overstretched. Also, because of frequent power outages, the hospital is running on back-up generators.

Magen David Adom, the Red Cross in Israel, has brought in additional staff and volunteers to southern Israel to provide urgent medical care and evacuate injured civilians to the nearest hospitals. Also, MDA ambulances continue to assist PRCS with taking wounded people from the Gaza Strip to hospitals in Israel. The American Red Cross is in frequent contact with MDA and stands ready to support their efforts as needed.

“We are very grateful for the tireless work our partners are doing on the ground in the Gaza Strip and Israel to help alleviate some of the tragedies of this conflict,” adds Meltzer. 

As the conflict continues, the American Red Cross is staying in close communication with our Red Cross and Red Crescent partners on the ground to see what further assistance is needed.