Palestinian Medical Relief Society - PMRS-PMRS teams in Gaza ready to respond to emergencies

While Israel prepares for fresh attacks in the Gaza Strip, the Palestinian Medical Relief Society is setting up immediate assistance and support for any civilans who are affected.

In the past few days, 19 Palestinians have been killed (mostly children) and over 40 injured in air strikes by Israeli forces, which were a retaliation to Hamas rockets.

These latest air raids in Gaza bring back bad memories of Operation Cast Lead, Israel’s major offensive against the Strip back in 2009. This is why the Palestinian Medical Relief Society is on high alert and preparing for a similar humanitarian catastrophy.

"We have a team in Gaza who are on standby to provide humanitarian services such as ambulances and mobile clinics for people in need especially for people who are hurt in an attack by Israelis forces," said Emergency Response Programme Director, Dr Mohammed Iskafi.

"In 2009, PMRS were among the first to provide humanitarian aid and health services during Operation Cast Lead."

Teams provided round the clock medical assistance for those affected and the help didn't just stop with medial assistance. They also distributed urgent supplies such as shelter, clothing, water, blankets and matresses.

"Usually our team works according to a plan but we are changing the plan from time to time, taking into consideration lessons learned from the last situation." Dr Iskafi added.

The Gaza Strip is viewed by the UN as one of the most impoverished regions in the world, where children are malnourished and eighty percent of its 1.5 million population relies on humanitarian aid.

Due to the blockade imposed by Israel, Gazans live in an open air prison, which severely restricts their freedom of movement and makes daily life difficult to surpass..

The blockade is illegal under international humanitarian law and the majority of Palestinians living in Gaza are refugees, which were displaced when the state of Israel was formed in 1948.

Because of daily bombardment of the Gaza Strip, PMRS has to ensure its team is prepared and ready. This can only be done in cooperation with other internatinal bodies in order to work together for the people of Gaza.