PHM-Exch> Palestinian NGOs report on the recent health situation since the “Great March of Return”

[Claudio Schuftan]

From: Ayed Yaghi <pmrs.gaza at gmail.com>


*Below is the report published by PNGO Network on the recent situation of
health sector.*

*Report version of English here and Arabic available on demand to
pmrs.gaza at gmail.com <pmrs.gaza at gmail.com>*

*Palestinian NGOs report on the recent health situation*

*since the “Great March of Return” *

On March 30, 2018 which marked the 42nd annual commemoration of Land Day
also the day Palestinian factions billed as a peaceful “March of Return”,
over two hundred fifty thousand gathered to advocate for the return of
Palestinian refugees to their original homelands in historic Palestine, now
present-day Israel. Palestinians also protested against the 11-year
continuous blockade on the Gaza Strip, with dire socioeconomic & sever
humanitarian conditions, encompassing shortages in basic needs, such as
water, food, and medical equipment, and the destruction of all aspects of
life therein. In response, the Israeli Occupying Forces (IOF) had murdered
30 Palestinians, wounded 3078; including 1043 Palestinians civilians
including 305 children & 370 women injured by live bullets & explosives.

Palestinian health NGOs worked with Ministry of Health responded to medical
emergency needs. Health NGOs provided first aid and medical services to
more than 406 since the beginning of the events, in addition to
transferring more than 71 cases to hospitals. NGOs also worked really hard
to provide blood units for various hospitals, including many blood donation
campaigns resulting in the 1098 blood units sent to both governmental and
non-governmental health centers.

Palestinian Health NGOs in the Gaza Strip are working under very difficult
conditions; the health sector suffers from severe shortage of medicines and
medical consumables as a result of 11 years of blockade and closure. The
resource crisis has been exacerbated by the events of the” Great March of
Return” and the influx of Palestinian civilian casualties has posed a
difficult challenge for the medical staff as the available quantities of
medicines and medical consumables have been consumed. Therefore, urgent
financial & medical mobilization is needed otherwise more Palestinians
civilians including women and children will die.

The medical personnel also work under threat of occupation live fire which
targets all Palestinians without any exception; peaceful demonstrators,
journalists or paramedics despite the wearing of vests that clearly
indicate their work. However, the systematic occupation policy of targeting
field medical teams in order to obstruct their work in the evacuation and
transfer of the injured, directly caused the injury of the volunteer medic
in the MRS, Ahmed Abu El-ola shot in both feet and underwent a surgery in
the European hospital in Gaza. MoH declared that the total number of
casualties among the medical personnel is 12 wounded, in addition to
targeting 4 ambulances, in clear violation of the 4thGeneva Convention for
the protection of civilians.

These frequent blatant attacks on civilians constitute explicit war crimes
that violate the principles of IL and are contrary to international norms
and conventions of IHL.

*Challenges:*

§  The severe shortage of medicines and medical consumables

§  Lack of financial and technical resources for hospitals and medical
centers

§  Shortage of International Humanitarian Aid for health NGOs reduced their
ability to provide the necessary medical services

§  Lack of international protection for health personnel, civil defense and
journalists

§  Lack of accountability by the international community to the Israeli
occupation for the violation of IHRL and IHL through targeting civilians,
journalists’ and health personnel.

*Recommendations:*

§  Lift the blockade on the Gaza Strip now and allow the entering of all
medicines and medical supplies, facilitate the movement of patients

§  Demand the international community and their human rights institutions
to provide protection to health personnel as well as to civilian
demonstrators participating in the peaceful demonstrations.

§  Hold the Israeli occupation accountable for the crimes committed against
our people, especially the attacks committed against the civilian
demonstrators and health personnel in the peaceful March of Return.

§  Call donors to expedite the provision of financial support to health
organizations to enable them to provide medical services in light of the
significant increasing numbers of casualties during the March of Return.

§  Exert efforts to end the political divide and activate the National
Reconciliation Government to take over its responsibilities in the Gaza
Strip, especially the Ministry of Health to promote and develop health
services and protect the right to health.

 *This report covers the work of 5 members of PNGO Health Sector (UHWC,
PMRS, UHCC, PAH, and CBBS).*
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