13 sept 2018
With support from the European Union, the World Health Organization (WHO) is replenishing stocks of urgently-needed trauma medicines in Gaza, and providing hands-on training for health staff working in frontline Trauma Stabilization Points (TSPs).
Life-saving medicines and medical supplies to treat more than 100,000 people have been delivered to hospitals and TSPs, filling critical gaps as supplies rapidly deplete as a result of increasing numbers of casualties injured in ongoing demonstrations within the context of the Great March of Return that started on 30 March, 2018. In coordination with the Ministry of Health and the Palestinian Red Crescent Society, WHO supported the capacity building of more than 60 health workers in 10 TSPs on emergency management of casualties at the TSPs and Emergency Rooms.
“The role of health workers at Trauma Stabilization Points is crucial,” said Dr. Gerald Rockenschaub, WHO’s Head of Office for Gaza and the West Bank, according to the PNN. “Health staff in TSPs are usually the first to see wounded patients, and their capacity to resuscitate, stabilize, and treat patients with serious injuries can significantly increase patients’ chances of survival before they are referred to hospital for further medical care.”
From 30 March to the beginning of September 2018, more than 18,000 people have been injured during the ongoing demonstrations in Gaza. Of these, more than 8,600 people were managed and directly discharged at TSPs, and almost 9,500 referred by TSP health workers to hospitals for specialised care.
“When I was shot in the leg, I was taken to the closest trauma stabilization centre which was less than five minutes away. Doctors treated my injury and made sure I was stable enough to be taken to hospital. Without this immediate medical care to save my leg, I would have survived the journey to hospital, but my leg could have been permanently damaged,” said Waleed, one of the thousands of Palestinians treated at the TSPs.
“A chain is only as strong as its weakest link,” says Michelle Čičić, who oversees the EU’s humanitarian operations in Palestine. “It is critical that we are able to provide patients with life-saving care from the point of injury to the moment they are released from hospital. This serves to improve the health system in Gaza as a whole.”
To ensure a comprehensive and coordinated approach to the provision of trauma care in Gaza, WHO has established a dedicated Trauma Working Group with active participation from key partners delivering trauma care across the pathway. Different trauma sub-groups, focusing on areas such as reconstructive surgery and rehabilitation, bring together expertise and knowledge that will ensure quality emergency and trauma care for all injured.
Life-saving medicines and medical supplies to treat more than 100,000 people have been delivered to hospitals and TSPs, filling critical gaps as supplies rapidly deplete as a result of increasing numbers of casualties injured in ongoing demonstrations within the context of the Great March of Return that started on 30 March, 2018. In coordination with the Ministry of Health and the Palestinian Red Crescent Society, WHO supported the capacity building of more than 60 health workers in 10 TSPs on emergency management of casualties at the TSPs and Emergency Rooms.
“The role of health workers at Trauma Stabilization Points is crucial,” said Dr. Gerald Rockenschaub, WHO’s Head of Office for Gaza and the West Bank, according to the PNN. “Health staff in TSPs are usually the first to see wounded patients, and their capacity to resuscitate, stabilize, and treat patients with serious injuries can significantly increase patients’ chances of survival before they are referred to hospital for further medical care.”
From 30 March to the beginning of September 2018, more than 18,000 people have been injured during the ongoing demonstrations in Gaza. Of these, more than 8,600 people were managed and directly discharged at TSPs, and almost 9,500 referred by TSP health workers to hospitals for specialised care.
“When I was shot in the leg, I was taken to the closest trauma stabilization centre which was less than five minutes away. Doctors treated my injury and made sure I was stable enough to be taken to hospital. Without this immediate medical care to save my leg, I would have survived the journey to hospital, but my leg could have been permanently damaged,” said Waleed, one of the thousands of Palestinians treated at the TSPs.
“A chain is only as strong as its weakest link,” says Michelle Čičić, who oversees the EU’s humanitarian operations in Palestine. “It is critical that we are able to provide patients with life-saving care from the point of injury to the moment they are released from hospital. This serves to improve the health system in Gaza as a whole.”
To ensure a comprehensive and coordinated approach to the provision of trauma care in Gaza, WHO has established a dedicated Trauma Working Group with active participation from key partners delivering trauma care across the pathway. Different trauma sub-groups, focusing on areas such as reconstructive surgery and rehabilitation, bring together expertise and knowledge that will ensure quality emergency and trauma care for all injured.
11 sept 2018
The network of east Jerusalem hospitals has warned that the US administration’s cut of funding to Palestinian hospitals in the holy city will adversely affect the lives of 5,000,000 Palestinian citizens.
This came following a meeting held by the network on Monday to discuss the impacts of the US step on six Palestinian hospitals. video
In a news conference held after the meeting, director of Augusta Victoria Hospital Walid Nammour expressed the network’s regret at the US decision to halt funding to Jerusalem hospitals, and warned that such step would largely affect the health services they provide for the Palestinians.
Nammour appealed to the Palestinian government, the US Congress and the international community to intervene to address such serious development.
This came following a meeting held by the network on Monday to discuss the impacts of the US step on six Palestinian hospitals. video
In a news conference held after the meeting, director of Augusta Victoria Hospital Walid Nammour expressed the network’s regret at the US decision to halt funding to Jerusalem hospitals, and warned that such step would largely affect the health services they provide for the Palestinians.
Nammour appealed to the Palestinian government, the US Congress and the international community to intervene to address such serious development.
10 sept 2018
|
|
Dozens of Palestinians were injured on Monday when the Israeli occupation forces opened fire at Palestinians marching in northern Gaza to support the new Freedom Flotilla that will attempt a journey from Gaza sea to break the siege. video video
Gaza Ministry of Health said that 49 Palestinians, including journalists and medics, were injured by Israeli live ammunition and teargas canisters. video The PIC reporter said that about 50 boats, carrying on board students and injured people, took part in the seventh Freedom Flotilla campaign launched from the Gaza Strip. Member of Hamas's Political Bureau Fathi Hammad praised the Palestinian people's determination and bravery over the past months. |
Hammad stressed that Palestinians in Gaza will continue their protests until they achieve their goals and restore their usurped rights.
Since 30th March, Palestinian citizens in Gaza have been protesting in five camps along Gaza's border with the 1948 occupied Palestinian territories in what is called "Great March of Return". A sixth camp will be installed starting Monday northwest of Gaza.
Since 30th March, Palestinian citizens in Gaza have been protesting in five camps along Gaza's border with the 1948 occupied Palestinian territories in what is called "Great March of Return". A sixth camp will be installed starting Monday northwest of Gaza.
9 sept 2018
Gaza's Ministry of Health on Sunday warned that hospitals in the besieged area may close within days due to power shortage resulting from depletion of fuel used to run alternative generators during power outage.
Spokesman for the ministry Ashraf al-Qedra in a brief statement said that power generators of major hospitals in Gaza will stop working in the coming few days because of the growing fuel shortage.
In view of the lack of any actions toward alleviating the crisis, al-Qedra added, a possible halt of services threatens major hospitals in the Gaza Strip.
Palestinian Authority president Mahmoud Abbas two years ago decided to impose a series of punitive measures on the Gaza Strip that added insult to injury given the Israeli blockade plaguing the coastal enclave since 2006.
Spokesman for the ministry Ashraf al-Qedra in a brief statement said that power generators of major hospitals in Gaza will stop working in the coming few days because of the growing fuel shortage.
In view of the lack of any actions toward alleviating the crisis, al-Qedra added, a possible halt of services threatens major hospitals in the Gaza Strip.
Palestinian Authority president Mahmoud Abbas two years ago decided to impose a series of punitive measures on the Gaza Strip that added insult to injury given the Israeli blockade plaguing the coastal enclave since 2006.
Atef Mohammed Saleh, 32
Israeli military forces have shot dead a Palestinian man at the Gaza Strip's border, claiming he was going to “sabotage” a fence separating the besieged territory from the occupied territories.
The Israeli military admitted in a statement Sunday that the man died after sustaining fatal injuries.
The deadly encounter came a day after the Israeli military clashed with anti-occupation protesters at the fence, killing one person and injuring about 400 other people.
Nearly 175 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli forces ever since anti-occupation protest rallies began in the Gaza Strip on March 30. A total of 19,139 Palestinians have also sustained injuries.
The Gaza clashes reached their peak on May 14, on the eve of the 70th anniversary of Nakba Day, or the Day of Catastrophe, which coincided this year with the US embassy relocation from Tel Aviv to occupied East Jerusalem al-Quds.
Earlier on Sunday, a video clip made the rounds on social media, appearing to show Israeli troops shooting a Palestinian boy at a time when he posed no obvious threat.
In the video, 16-year-old Ahmad Misbah Abu Toyour is standing near the fence as he is taking part in "The Great March of Return" protests. Toyour throws a stone at Israeli forces, and a shot rings out and he falls to the ground obviously in a great deal of pain.
The Palestinian teenager succumbed to his gunshot wounds at the European Hospital in the city of Khan Yunis, located about 25 kilometers south of Gaza City, on Saturday morning.
Army Kills A Palestinian In Northern Gaza
Israeli soldiers killed, on Sunday evening, a young man near the perimeter fence, in Abu Safiyya area, east of Jabalia, in the northern part of the Gaza Strip, and abducted three other Palestinians.
The Israeli army claimed the Palestinian was killed by the soldiers while trying to breach the perimeter fence.
The slain Palestinians have been identified as Attaf Abed-Rabbo Saleh, 32, from Jabalia.
It added that the soldiers also detained three other Palestinians, and claimed they carried knives, and were moved to an interrogation facility.
After shooting the young man, the soldiers crossed the fence and advanced a few meters into Gaza, before taking him, and the other Palestinians. It later said the man has died from his wounds.
Medical sources in Gaza said Palestinian medics tried to reach the seriously wounded young man, but the soldiers opened fire at them, preventing them from even approaching him.
Israeli military forces have shot dead a Palestinian man at the Gaza Strip's border, claiming he was going to “sabotage” a fence separating the besieged territory from the occupied territories.
The Israeli military admitted in a statement Sunday that the man died after sustaining fatal injuries.
The deadly encounter came a day after the Israeli military clashed with anti-occupation protesters at the fence, killing one person and injuring about 400 other people.
Nearly 175 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli forces ever since anti-occupation protest rallies began in the Gaza Strip on March 30. A total of 19,139 Palestinians have also sustained injuries.
The Gaza clashes reached their peak on May 14, on the eve of the 70th anniversary of Nakba Day, or the Day of Catastrophe, which coincided this year with the US embassy relocation from Tel Aviv to occupied East Jerusalem al-Quds.
Earlier on Sunday, a video clip made the rounds on social media, appearing to show Israeli troops shooting a Palestinian boy at a time when he posed no obvious threat.
In the video, 16-year-old Ahmad Misbah Abu Toyour is standing near the fence as he is taking part in "The Great March of Return" protests. Toyour throws a stone at Israeli forces, and a shot rings out and he falls to the ground obviously in a great deal of pain.
The Palestinian teenager succumbed to his gunshot wounds at the European Hospital in the city of Khan Yunis, located about 25 kilometers south of Gaza City, on Saturday morning.
Army Kills A Palestinian In Northern Gaza
Israeli soldiers killed, on Sunday evening, a young man near the perimeter fence, in Abu Safiyya area, east of Jabalia, in the northern part of the Gaza Strip, and abducted three other Palestinians.
The Israeli army claimed the Palestinian was killed by the soldiers while trying to breach the perimeter fence.
The slain Palestinians have been identified as Attaf Abed-Rabbo Saleh, 32, from Jabalia.
It added that the soldiers also detained three other Palestinians, and claimed they carried knives, and were moved to an interrogation facility.
After shooting the young man, the soldiers crossed the fence and advanced a few meters into Gaza, before taking him, and the other Palestinians. It later said the man has died from his wounds.
Medical sources in Gaza said Palestinian medics tried to reach the seriously wounded young man, but the soldiers opened fire at them, preventing them from even approaching him.
|
|
Israeli settlers attacked a Palestinian ambulance on Saturday evening, which was transporting a patient from the al-Shuhada street to a nearby hospital in the southern occupied West Bank city of Hebron.
According to local sources, Israeli settlers blocked the al-Shuhada street and closed it down, in order to prevent the ambulance from transporting the patient to a hospital. Sources said that Israeli settlers continued by throwing rocks at the ambulance, which broke the rear glass window of the ambulance. This attack came a few days after the Israeli authorities agreed to allow |
Palestinian ambulances to enter al-Shuhada street, without any prior notice, in the case of necessary transport of patients to hospitals.
Sources also confirmed that Israeli settlers under the heavy protection of Israeli forces, showered several Palestinian homes with rocks in the Hebron district and attacked a number of Palestinian shepherds in the same area.
Palestinian residents of the Old City of Hebron face a large Israeli military presence on a daily basis, with at least 32 permanent and partial checkpoints set up at the entrances of many streets.
Additionally, Palestinians are not allowed to drive on al-Shuhada street, have had their homes and shops on the street welded shut, and in some areas of the Old City, are not permitted to walk on certain roads.
Meanwhile, Israeli settlers move freely on the street, drive cars, and carry machine guns.
The Palestinian government has no jurisdiction over Israelis in the West Bank, and acts carried out by Israeli settlers often occur in the presence of Israeli military forces who rarely act to protect Palestinian residents.
According to a report by the Israeli rights group B'Tselem, "Settler violence and vandalism takes place with full backing by the Israeli authorities. Sometimes soldiers take part in the assault; at other times, they stand idly by. The police makes no substantial effort to investigate the incidents, nor takes measures to prevent them or stop them in real time."
The video shows damage to the ambulance, resulting from the Israeli settlers' attack:
Sources also confirmed that Israeli settlers under the heavy protection of Israeli forces, showered several Palestinian homes with rocks in the Hebron district and attacked a number of Palestinian shepherds in the same area.
Palestinian residents of the Old City of Hebron face a large Israeli military presence on a daily basis, with at least 32 permanent and partial checkpoints set up at the entrances of many streets.
Additionally, Palestinians are not allowed to drive on al-Shuhada street, have had their homes and shops on the street welded shut, and in some areas of the Old City, are not permitted to walk on certain roads.
Meanwhile, Israeli settlers move freely on the street, drive cars, and carry machine guns.
The Palestinian government has no jurisdiction over Israelis in the West Bank, and acts carried out by Israeli settlers often occur in the presence of Israeli military forces who rarely act to protect Palestinian residents.
According to a report by the Israeli rights group B'Tselem, "Settler violence and vandalism takes place with full backing by the Israeli authorities. Sometimes soldiers take part in the assault; at other times, they stand idly by. The police makes no substantial effort to investigate the incidents, nor takes measures to prevent them or stop them in real time."
The video shows damage to the ambulance, resulting from the Israeli settlers' attack:
Responding to the US decision to cancel the $20 million grant allocated to the Palestinian Makassed hospital in occupied Jerusalem, the hospital administration on Saturday that the measure harms live-saving services and confuses political issues with medical and humanitarian ones.
The Hospital admin said in a statement that this decision comes at a time when the hospital is facing a severe financial crisis due to the large cash flow deficit and the outstanding debts of the Palestinian government.
"The hospital's share of the total US grant is 45 million shekels ($12.5 million), which helps a great deal its various departments and the provision of services for its patients who come from the West Bank, the Gaza Strip and occupied Jerusalem," it said.
Depriving the hospital of these funds demands an immediate financial intervention from the Palestinian government to help the hospital pay the income tax, the property tax and the pension fund imposed by the Israeli government, said Makassed’s admin.
The statement slammed the US move, which it said makes part of US attempts to pressure the Palestinians to accept its dictates.
US President Donald Trump ordered that $25m earmarked for the medical care of Palestinians in East Jerusalem hospitals be directed elsewhere as part of a review of aid, a State Department official said on Saturday.
Trump called for a review of US assistance to the Palestinians earlier this year to ensure that the funds were being spent in accordance with national interests and were providing value to taxpayers, Reuters reported.
The aid cut is the latest in a number of sanctions by the Trump administration that have stirred the anger of Palestinians, including the recognition of occupied Jerusalem as Israel's capital and moving the US embassy to occupied Jerusalem from Tel Aviv.
"This is not a formula of peace-building, this is a complete inhuman and immoral action that adopts the Israeli right-wing narrative to target and punish Palestinian citizens to compromise their rights to independence," AFP cited a Palestinian official as stating.
Human rights groups also condemned such an act of “political blackmail”, which they said goes against the norms of human decency and morality.
The Hospital admin said in a statement that this decision comes at a time when the hospital is facing a severe financial crisis due to the large cash flow deficit and the outstanding debts of the Palestinian government.
"The hospital's share of the total US grant is 45 million shekels ($12.5 million), which helps a great deal its various departments and the provision of services for its patients who come from the West Bank, the Gaza Strip and occupied Jerusalem," it said.
Depriving the hospital of these funds demands an immediate financial intervention from the Palestinian government to help the hospital pay the income tax, the property tax and the pension fund imposed by the Israeli government, said Makassed’s admin.
The statement slammed the US move, which it said makes part of US attempts to pressure the Palestinians to accept its dictates.
US President Donald Trump ordered that $25m earmarked for the medical care of Palestinians in East Jerusalem hospitals be directed elsewhere as part of a review of aid, a State Department official said on Saturday.
Trump called for a review of US assistance to the Palestinians earlier this year to ensure that the funds were being spent in accordance with national interests and were providing value to taxpayers, Reuters reported.
The aid cut is the latest in a number of sanctions by the Trump administration that have stirred the anger of Palestinians, including the recognition of occupied Jerusalem as Israel's capital and moving the US embassy to occupied Jerusalem from Tel Aviv.
"This is not a formula of peace-building, this is a complete inhuman and immoral action that adopts the Israeli right-wing narrative to target and punish Palestinian citizens to compromise their rights to independence," AFP cited a Palestinian official as stating.
Human rights groups also condemned such an act of “political blackmail”, which they said goes against the norms of human decency and morality.
8 sept 2018
The United States announced, on Saturday, that it will cancel $20 million in aid to Palestinian hospitals of occupied East Jerusalem.
A US State Department Official told Israeli news outlet Haaretz the decision against the hospitals is part of the administration's broader approach of cutting Palestinian aid and investing it in other priorities.
The decision comes weeks after the US had announced that it will cut all funds to the United Nations Relied and Aid Agency (UNRWA) and the cut of $200 million for economic and social projects for the Palestinians.
Haaretz reported that "the budget cut could cause harm to at least five hospitals in East Jerusalem, including Augusta Victoria hospital near Mt. Scopus and the St. John Eye Hospital, which is the main provider of eye treatments for Palestinians in the West Bank and East Jerusalem."
"There was indication of the influence of Christian groups supporting these hospitals earlier this year, when congress approved the Taylor Force Act, which put severe restrictions on U.S. funding for Palestinians."
Addressing a conference of Jewish leaders in the US on Thursday, President Donald Trump admitted that his goal is to use US funds to get the Palestinians to surrender to his terms.
US President Donald Trump said, on Thursday, that the aid cut decision was to pressure Palestinians to return to UN-led negotiations with Israel.
"I told them, we're not paying you until we make a deal. If we don't make a deal, we're not paying."
Dave Harden, a former U.S. official who was in charge of USAID in the West Bank, warned, on Friday, that the decision could lead to the "collapse" of Augusta Victoria hospital.
Augusta Victoria and other East Jerusalem hospitals not only serve the Palestinian population of the city, but also Palestinians from Gaza and the West Bank, including cancer patients and children.
A US State Department Official told Israeli news outlet Haaretz the decision against the hospitals is part of the administration's broader approach of cutting Palestinian aid and investing it in other priorities.
The decision comes weeks after the US had announced that it will cut all funds to the United Nations Relied and Aid Agency (UNRWA) and the cut of $200 million for economic and social projects for the Palestinians.
Haaretz reported that "the budget cut could cause harm to at least five hospitals in East Jerusalem, including Augusta Victoria hospital near Mt. Scopus and the St. John Eye Hospital, which is the main provider of eye treatments for Palestinians in the West Bank and East Jerusalem."
"There was indication of the influence of Christian groups supporting these hospitals earlier this year, when congress approved the Taylor Force Act, which put severe restrictions on U.S. funding for Palestinians."
Addressing a conference of Jewish leaders in the US on Thursday, President Donald Trump admitted that his goal is to use US funds to get the Palestinians to surrender to his terms.
US President Donald Trump said, on Thursday, that the aid cut decision was to pressure Palestinians to return to UN-led negotiations with Israel.
"I told them, we're not paying you until we make a deal. If we don't make a deal, we're not paying."
Dave Harden, a former U.S. official who was in charge of USAID in the West Bank, warned, on Friday, that the decision could lead to the "collapse" of Augusta Victoria hospital.
Augusta Victoria and other East Jerusalem hospitals not only serve the Palestinian population of the city, but also Palestinians from Gaza and the West Bank, including cancer patients and children.
7 sept 2018
Spokesperson of the Palestinian Ministry of Health in the besieged Gaza Strip said, on Friday, that the World Health Organization (WHO) began sending the first patch of psychological medications to the ministry in Gaza.
Spokesperson Ashraf al-Qidra said that the lack of these psychological medications has caused serious health and social implications.
Al-Qidra added that the first patch arriving includes seven types of crucial psychological medications.
The second patch of medications is expected to arrive into the Gaza Strip next week.
The Gaza Strip has been under Israeli blockade for 11 years; there three crossings into the Gaza Strip; two are controlled by Israel and one by Egypt.
The Gaza-Israel crossings are the Erez crossing in the northern Gaza Strip, that is specifically for pedestrians, and Kerem Shalom in the southern Gaza Strip for the entry of goods and fuel. The Gaza-Egypt crossing is the Rafah crossing in the southern Gaza Strip, but is often closed and lacks infrastructure for it to be a main commercial crossing.
The Israeli authorities had partially reopened the Erez (Beit Hanoun) crossing, on Thursday, following its closure a day before, in response to protests that took place near the border crossing on Tuesday.
Spokesperson Ashraf al-Qidra said that the lack of these psychological medications has caused serious health and social implications.
Al-Qidra added that the first patch arriving includes seven types of crucial psychological medications.
The second patch of medications is expected to arrive into the Gaza Strip next week.
The Gaza Strip has been under Israeli blockade for 11 years; there three crossings into the Gaza Strip; two are controlled by Israel and one by Egypt.
The Gaza-Israel crossings are the Erez crossing in the northern Gaza Strip, that is specifically for pedestrians, and Kerem Shalom in the southern Gaza Strip for the entry of goods and fuel. The Gaza-Egypt crossing is the Rafah crossing in the southern Gaza Strip, but is often closed and lacks infrastructure for it to be a main commercial crossing.
The Israeli authorities had partially reopened the Erez (Beit Hanoun) crossing, on Thursday, following its closure a day before, in response to protests that took place near the border crossing on Tuesday.
