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Nablus Update
8th April 2002

Two or three days ago we reported that in downtown Nablus three injured
people were unable to be moved and were prevented from receiving
medical
care. Israeli troops today handed three bodies over to the Palestinians
–victims of this barbaric Israeli policy.

The crisis in the reoccupied towns in the West Bank is worsening. “We
are witnessing a disaster,” Dr. Mustafa Barghouti said after talking to 
a field doctor in the besieged city of Nablus. All ambulances are 
completely paralysed, and there has been an urgent request for help in 
the Yasmeen neighbourhood, as the area has been attacked and shelled 
all night with people being used as human shields.

This morning the Red Cross arranged with the Israeli military
authorities to allow the movement of 4 ambulances – two Red Crescent, 
one from Medical Relief and one from the UN. However when the 
ambulances were moving, Israeli soldiers opened fire on them, 
destroying the engine of the UN ambulance. The
medical staffs were then removed from the ambulance – all of them then
had their identification confiscated, and were ordered to return to the
hospitals and not to move again.

This brings the total number of times ambulances have been shot in the
latest Israeli violence in Nablus, to eight. Thus far 39 people are
reported to have died – but we cannot confirm this because more of the 
injured may have died because of lack of medical treatment, and also 
because no one can get out and find the bodies. Additionally 100s of 
people are known to have been injured from the attacks, many of who may 
die because of not being able to receive medical care.

For more information contact Juliana at the Palestine Monitor
+972 (0)2 5834021 or +972 (0)2 5833510
www.palestinemonitor.org