Reuters AlertNet Full site
Homepage | Newsdesk | NGO Latest | Crisis briefings | Country profiles | MediaWatch | Jobs | Alerting | Login

FROM THE FIELD

Gaza crisis: Red Cross President visit to Gaza and Israel
14 Jan 2009 14:18:10 GMT
 Source: Irish Red Cross - Ireland (Crois Dhearg na hÉireann)
irishredcr logo
Donate to our Gaza Appeal
Previous | Next
Donate to our Gaza Appeal
Irish Redcross

Background

•  Israeli-Palestinian conflict

MORE >>
The ICRC president visited Shifa Hospita in Gaza City, the main referral hospital serving all of Gaza. There, he met patients in the intensive care unit, an ICRC surgical team and other medical personnel.

"What I saw today was shocking," said Mr Kellenberger after his tour.

"It is unacceptable to see so many wounded people. Their lives must be spared and the security of those who care for them guaranteed."

Today Mr Kellenberger will hold talks with Israeli Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni, Israeli Defence Minister Ehud Barak, and President Mahmud Abbas of the Palestinian Authority.

Women & children casualties

Mr Kellenberger’s visit comes at a time of intensified fighting and deepening humanitarian crisis in the Gaza Strip.

Civilians trapped in combat zones are particularly affected. Hospitals are being overwhelmed by a steady influx of casualties, including more and more women and children.

In a call on the fighting parties to spare civilians and let humanitarian workers do their work. Mr Kellenberger said: "Both parties must ensure that all victims are cared for rapidly, at all times of day. In particular, the wounded must be evacuated and receive treatment.

"Injured people cannot wait for days, or even for hours, before being treated. The work of medical personnel must be respected – and this is not negotiable."

Risks to medical aid workers

He also noted that Palestine Red Crescent Society aid workers are risking their lives every day to save people and pledged the support of the ICRC for their work.

During his visit to the town of Sderot in southern Israel, which has been hit by rockets, Mr Kellenberger will learn of the work being done by their counterparts in Israel the Magen David Adom. As the Israeli member of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, aid workers from the Magen David Adom have also assisted Israeli civilians injured by rocket attacks and co-ordinated transfers to Israeli hospitals from Gaza for Palestinian civilians over the course of the past three years.

Noel Wardick, Head of International Dept, Irish Red Cross welcomed the visit of President Kellenberger to the region, pointing out once again to the warring parties the absolute importance of granting unlimited access to Red Cross and Red Crescent personnel and ensuring their protection from harm as they carry out their life saving duties.

Notes to the Editor.

Background

The Israeli Government, pursuing their stated aim to cease the launch of missiles and rockets from Gaza into southern Israeli towns, has initiated a series of military operations, including ground advances into Gaza on 3 January 2009. On 7 January 2009, the Palestinian city of Rafah experienced heavy bombardment.

18 days of hostilities have resulted in a dire humanitarian situation in Gaza, placing at risk the lives and welfare of some 1.5 million Palestinians in the Gaza Strip. The UN reports more than 800 deaths and over 3,300, injured, many severely. There has been a disproportionate impact on the most vulnerable (it is estimated that roughly 20 percent of the fatalities and 40 percent of the injuries are women and children). The numbers of affected are expected to rise as the military actions continue.

Irish Red Cross

The Irish Red Cross has transferred €30,000 from its own emergency reserves to the International Committee of the Red Cross to help pay for medical supplies and treatment. Donations to fund this work can be made on 1850 50 70 70 or by donating online.

International Committee of the Red Cross.

The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) has a special role set out in the Geneva Conventions and other bodies of International Humanitarian Law (IHL). This role confers responsibility on the ICRC to promote the adherence to International Humanitarian Law by parties to conflicts and recognition at all times by all states and other parties/groups of the importance of International Humanitarian Law.

Palestine Red Crescent Society

The Palestine Red Crescent Society (PRCS) is the main provider of ambulance services and also operate hospitals in both Gaza and the West Bank. It is the local branch of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies and operates throughout Palestine in a similar way to the Irish Red Cross in Ireland.

Egyptian Red Crescent Society

The Egyptian Red Crescent Society (ERCS) is working to facilitate humanitarian access to Gaza and taking care of the victims of the conflict.

Magen David Adom

The Magen David Adom (Red Star of David) provides ambulance services in Israel. It is the local branch of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies and operates throughout Israel in a similar way to the Irish Red Cross in Ireland.

International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies

The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies brings together the Palestine Red Crescent Society, the Egyptian Red Crescent Society, the Magen David Adom and all of the Red Cross/Red Crescent/Red Star societies in 187 countries around the world.

For further information or to set up an interview with a representative of the Irish Red Cross, please contact Aoife Mac Eoin: 087 - 998 3788.


[ Any views expressed in this article are those of the writer and not of Reuters. ]

Email this article       Send comments

Emergencies

•  Israeli-Palestinian conflict

MORE >>

Members

•  Irish Red Cross - Ireland (Crois Dhearg na hÉireann)

MORE >>

NGO latest

•  Gaza crisis: Red Cross President visit to Gaza and Israel
Red Cross - Ireland

•  British Red Cross launches Gaza Crisis Appeal
Red Cross - UK

•  World Vision prepares aid to join convoy as humanitarian situation deteriorates
World Vision MEERO - Cyprus

•  'Pitiful' amount of aid reaching Gaza
Save the Children - International Alliance

•  UMCOR Hotline for January 13, 2009
UMCOR - USA

MORE >>

Latest news

•  TIMELINE-Israeli-Hamas violence since ceasefire ended

•  EU says Israel agrees "time-out" on upgrading ties

•  FACTBOX-Developments in Gaza fighting, Jan 14

•  U.N. chief renews call for ceasefire in Gaza

•  Osama Bin Laden calls for jihad over Gaza

MORE >>

[ Any views expressed in this article are those of the writer and not of Reuters. ]

Background information

Briefings
Israeli-Palestinian conflict - [Who works where]

Statistics graphs
Human development index ranking (2005)
Chart for Human development index ranking
View more stats >>

Related articles

Breaking stories
 TIMELINE-Israeli-Hamas violence since ceasefire ended (1 minute ago)

EU says Israel agrees "time-out" on upgrading ties (1 minute ago)

AlertNet insight
 MEDIAWATCH: End of the road for cluster bombs? (1 minute ago)

Aid agency news feed
 Gaza crisis: Red Cross President visit to Gaza and Israel (1 minute ago)

Blogs
 The bombs came today - there is nowhere to go (1 minute ago)

Maps
 MAP: WHO West Bank and Gaza office interactive health maps (1 minute ago)


Del.icio.us Del.icio.us  |   Digg Digg  |   NewsVine NewsVine  |   Reddit Reddit   
Thumb for /thefacts/imagerepository/RTRPICT/2009-01-14T141618Z_01_KIE24_RTRIDSP_2_PALESTINIANS-ISRAEL-PROTEST_mainimage.jpg|/thenews/pictures/KIE24.htm
Thumb for /thefacts/imagerepository/RTRPICT/2009-01-14T141340Z_01_KIE23_RTRIDSP_2_PALESTINIANS-ISRAEL-PROTEST_mainimage.jpg|/thenews/pictures/KIE23.htm
Thumb for /thefacts/imagerepository/RTRPICT/2009-01-14T141132Z_01_KIE22_RTRIDSP_2_PALESTINIANS-ISRAEL-PROTEST_mainimage.jpg|/thenews/pictures/KIE22.htm
Thumb for /thefacts/imagerepository/RTRPICT/2009-01-14T140505Z_01_JER41_RTRIDSP_2_PALESTINIANS-ISRAEL_mainimage.jpg|/thenews/pictures/JER41.htm
Thumb for /thefacts/imagerepository/RTRPICT/2009-01-14T135632Z_01_JER42_RTRIDSP_2_PALESTINIANS-ISRAEL_mainimage.jpg|/thenews/pictures/JER42.htm

A woman reacts during a protest supporting Israel's military actions in Gaza in front of the Israeli embassy in Kiev January 14, 2009. REUTERS/Vladimir Sindeyev (UKRAINE) ...


More pictures | Galleries
Disclaimers |  Copyright |  Privacy |  Contact Us |  Feedback |  About Us |  RSS XML

Last updated:Wed Jan 14 14:19:59 2009