Hundreds of wounded Palestinians in danger of dying due to Israeli closure of border crossings

Israeli doctors: Hundreds of wounded Palestinians in danger of dying due to Israeli closure

Sunday January 25, 2009 10:48 by Saed Bannoura - IMEMC News

A group of Israeli doctors with Physicians for Human Rights released a report Saturday with their observations from a delegation to the Gaza Strip. They say that due to the overcrowded conditions, lack of medical supplies, and intermittent electricity resulting from Israeli bombardment, hundreds of Palestinians are in danger of dying.

Over 1300 Palestinians were killed in the three-week long Israeli offensive which ended last week. At least 4,400 were wounded, many of them critically, and the wounded are now facing dire conditions in the Gazan hospitals where many of them remain.

According to one member of the Physicians for Human Rights delegation, "Each hospital is full of wounded. There are wounded in serious condition and the treatment they are given is very basic because of the lack of medical supplies. The hospitals are not set up to receive so many patients at the same time”, adding that the conditions will definitely lead to high fatality rates among the wounded.

In addition to the lack of medical equipment and supplies, there are sewage leaks in many areas in Gaza, animal carcasses are strewn about the streets and trash is everywhere after the massive bombardment of homes and schools for three weeks straight. The Physicians for Human Rights warn that this will lead to contamination of the wounded, many of whom are suffering from acute burns and amputations of limbs. Some of the injured have unprecedented symptoms that docors say are indications that Israeli forces used internationally-banned weapons in Gaza.

The doctors appealed to the international community to pressure Israel to allow the entry of medical aid into the Gaza Strip, and to allow patients in need of lifesaving medical care to leave the Strip to receive treatment abroad. Israeli forces control all sides of the Gaza Strip, and do not allow Palestinian residents to leave except with special permits from the Israeli authorities, which are very difficult to get.

PHR-Israel: "Large number of wounded Palestinians in danger of dying"

Saturday January 24, 2009 00:04 by Saed Bannoura - IMEMC & Agencies

Physicians of Human Right – Israel, reported on Friday that hundreds of Palestinians who were injured during the Israeli offensive in Gaza are in danger of dying as Gaza hospitals are overloaded with wounded Palestinians and lack basic supplies.

The statement came after 12-Arab Physicians from Israel managed enter the Gaza Strip to treat wounded Palestinians.

The doctors are slated to return to Israel by Sunday, Israeli online daily, Haaretz, reported.

Haaretz added, that Dr. Aghbariah, an Arab physician from Um Al Fahim Arab town, stated on Friday that hospitals in Gaza are overloaded with patients and wounded residents, and added that patients who suffered serious injuries are being treated with basic methods as the hospitals lack medical supplies and equipment.

He added that the hospitals are not equipment to receive this large number of patients, and that this large number will lead to deaths among the patients and the wounded.

Dr. Aghbariah also said that the lack of continuous electricity and the high level of poverty in Gaza is increasing the suffering of the residents, and added that carcasses of dead animals in several areas and the increasing piles of trash is worsening the situation and increasing risks of contamination, Haaretz reported.

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