For immediate release
6 January 2009
Gaza hospitals on the brink of collapse as Israeli offensive continues
Civilian casualties mount as talks on ceasefire hit political obstacles
Tens
of thousands of families under siege in Gaza are facing desperate
conditions as mounting civilian casualties swamp a hospital system that
is close to collapse, international aid agency Oxfam warned today.
The
conflict is also preventing the highly inadequate amount of aid
trickling into Gaza from reaching families trapped by the fighting, the
agency said, but international efforts to achieve a ceasefire are being
obstructed by political positioning of various parties..
“Doctors
working in Gaza’s hospitals say they’ve been swamped by casualties but
lack essential drugs, medicines, medical equipment, and spare parts.
Several paramedics have also been killed after coming under tank and
artillery fire. A number of clinics have been forced to close because
of clashes nearby,” said Oxfam Great Britain’s Country Director in
Jerusalem, John Prideaux-Brune.
“Additionally,
hospitals are struggling to function because of round-the-clock power
cuts. Fuel for back-up generators is now dangerously low. Scores of
patients in intensive care face certain death if those generators stop.
Yesterday, generators at Ministry of Health ambulance stations, vaccine
stores, labs and warehouses shut down temporarily after running out of
fuel,” he said.
The
UN has managed to deliver food to some hospitals and southern areas in
the past few days but has had to cancel distributions elsewhere.
Similarly, a small amount of fuel has been trucked into the Strip
recently but clashes have prevented distribution to most of those who
need it.
“Many
families who need vital supplies such as food and water are simply too
frightened to leave their homes,” said Prideaux-Brune. “Other families
are just keeping their heads down and some are able to move about
locally – but their conditions can change at any moment as we’ve seen
when shells have fallen on busy market places.”
Moreover,
the Israeli ground offensive has cut the densely populated Gaza Strip
into at least two sections. This has cut these areas off from each
other, blocked the transport of injured people and medical supplies,
and prevented access to the few border crossings that are
intermittently open.
Oxfam welcomes diplomatic efforts by regional and international leaders
to encourage a ceasefire but is concerned that time is being wasted by
political positioning and finger-pointing.
“Every
day that passes without a truce is costing innocent lives. Foreign
diplomats, governments and parties to the conflict must stop wasting
time apportioning blame, and give priority to humanitarian imperatives
over political objectives,” said Prideaux-Brune.
Oxfam is calling for a binding UN Security Council resolution to demand:
an immediate halt to violence in Gaza and Israel by all parties,
all parties to commit to an immediate, comprehensive and permanent
truce,
Israel,
Hamas and other parties to do all in their power to permit immediate
and unhindered access to and from Gaza for humanitarian and commercial
goods, and for people, thereby ending the blockade.
Ends
For further information contact:
For more information contact:
Shaheen Chughtai +972 575538536
Michael Bailey +972572233014
John Prideaux-Brune +972 5 77399772
Ian Bray +44 1865 472289, +44 7721 461339
Michael Bailey
Advocacy and Media Manager
Jerusalem Office
Tel + 972 (0)2 656 6234 ext 223
mob + 972 0572233014
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