All sides must end violence in Gaza

A Red Crescent official loads medicine from Egypt into vehicles to send to the Rafah Strip [Reuters, courtesy www.alertnet.org]

CAFOD calls on Israel, Hamas and other Palestinian armed groups, to bring an immediate end to the violence as the number killed and injured continues to rise at a dramatic rate in Gaza

According to CAFOD partners, the hospitals are overloaded and struggling to cope with the numbers of casualties coming in. The escalation in violence has made an already difficult humanitarian situation for most Gaza residents even more difficult.

The insufficient medical stocks and shortages already experienced within the medical sector, means that staff are struggling to respond to the large numbers of injured arriving at hospitals.

Hatem Shurrab, an aid worker with Islamic Relief, a CAFOD partner in Gaza said: "This is the worst situation I have ever seen in Gaza. I visited the hospital and there were bodies outside and people crying. Buildings are totally destroyed. It's really horrific".

Islamic Relief is purchasing life saving medication and medical equipment to stock Gaza’s main Al Shifa hospital and an emergency team has been traveling across the Gaza Strip, assessing the developing humanitarian need.

Humanitarian need

Dr Mohammed Alsousi, Director of Islamic Relief in Gaza, gave this account of how hospitals and clinics are coping with the influx of injured.

“Medical staff are trying to create new areas in the hospital where people can be treated as there are too many casualties. Hospitals and clinics are at breaking point and unable to cope”.

As the international community gather to discuss the unfolding humanitarian crisis in Gaza, CAFOD reminds them that they must use all their influence to ensure that humanitarian aid is able to reach those most in need.

CAFOD has pledged an initial £50,000 pounds to support the humanitarian efforts of its partner Islamic Relief.

In previous years CAFOD has worked through Islamic Relief and Caritas Jerusalem, providing humanitarian aid in Gaza. In response to this current crisis CAFOD is working through Islamic Relief to provide urgently needed medical aid.

For further information please contact Nana Anto-Awuakye on 07799 477 541 or email nanto-awuakye@cafod.org.uk . Please also copy any replies to nantoawuakye@yahoo.com

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