WHO: “21 medics killed, 31 wounded due to the ongoing Israeli offensive”

Friday January 09, 2009 01:54 by Saed Bannoura - IMEMC News

The World Health Organization (WHO) reported on Thursday that basic medical services in Gaza are collapsing as Israel continues its siege and offensive in the Gaza Strip. 21 medics have been killed by Israeli shells and bullets, and at least 31 others wounded.

According to information obtained by the World Health Organizaton (WHO), the ongoing Israeli air strikes, shelling and ground offensive have limited the movement of patients and medics to a av ery dangerous level that is resulting in blocked medical services and the delivery of medical supplies.

The WHO stated that 21 medical personnel have been killed in the Gaza Strip, and that thirty other were wounded as the Iraeli Army did not only shell at least 11 ambulances, but also shelled hospitals in medical centers.

The WHO added that the number of governmental medical facilities that are still running in the Gaza Strip stands at 29 out of 56 centers and medical facilities.

The WHO's statements focused on the following main points;

1. Gaza needs urgent supplies of life-saving equipment to treat the increasing number of wounded residents.

2. Due to the ongoing bombardment and ground offensive, the movement of patients and medical personnel is limited; evacuation of critically injured residents to hospitals outside of the Gaza Strip is prevented by Israel.

3. Hospitals in Gaza do not have enough beds in emergency rooms and admissions. Hospitals are using make-shift trauma and intensive care units and even those beds are nearing exhaustion of capacity. “There have been reports of injured people lying on the ground in health facilities”.

4. Health workers are working around the clock since Israel started bombarding Gaza on December 27. They are very exhausted and need urgent replacements to be able to provide live-saving services to the critically injured residents.

5. Power failures are affecting medical services, resulting in hospitals having to use generators, including some hospitals having to use generators around the clock because main supplies are cut.  Medical supplies are running out, power failures have negative effects on infection control, blood transfusion, instruments used for sterilization, basic sanitation and hygiene in hospitals, operating theatres and intensive care units. The hospitals are also expecting a dangerous increase of life-threatening hospital-borne infections “such as gangrene, septicemia, tetanus, etc. and complications (such as shock) can also be expected”. The statement read.

gaza strip | israeli attacks | news report saed at imemc dot org