To date, the Israeli army’s offensive in Gaza has killed 697 Palestinians, at least 518 of them civilians, including 170 children and 86 women. With very limited resources, hospitals are struggling to cope with the influx of injured people and many people are having to be treated on the floor. Yesterday, Handicap International’s team in Gaza was able to hand over wheelchairs, crutches and anti-sore mattresses to staff at Al Shifa hospital, where most of the injured are being treated.
The equipment was donated after a needs assessment at the hospital conducted by our local team in coordination with the International Red Cross Committee (IRCC), the Ministry of Health and the World Health Organisation.
Guillaume Zerr, Handicap International’s head of mission in Palestine explains: “This is a first step, but we don’t currently have anywhere near the capacity required to meet the needs of hospitals, starting with Al Shifa. As long as it’s impossible to move around Gaza or to bring in supplies of necessary equipment, we’re not going to be able to provide an adequate response to the humanitarian disaster currently unfolding there.”
Handicap International and its partners in the field are ready to set up mobile teams in order to assist the injured and support them with rehabilitation care as soon as the security situation allows. “Everyone’s ready to help and aware of the population’s acute needs, which grow greater every day as the Israeli army offensive continues. The situation is extremely difficult for our teams and partners in the field who can’t do anything for the moment because of the constant bombing across the Gaza Strip.”
Notes
1. For the latest casualty figures visit www.ochaopt.org