8 August, 2018, Gaza Strip –The World Health Organization (WHO) is delivering 36 trauma kits to the Ministry of Health that are urgently needed to ensure the wounded receive appropriate emergency treatment.
With resources from the United Nations Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF), WHO has delivered 18 trauma kits, which will be used to treat up to 1800 patients who are in need of surgical care. Each emergency trauma kit comprises 2 parts (A and B) and contains pharmaceuticals and disposable items to treat 100 trauma patients.
“The medical supplies procured by WHO will directly support the treatment of trauma casualties, enhance trauma management in 6 major hospitals to respond to the casualties in the Gaza Strip and reduce the trauma-related suffering of the wounded,” said Dr Gerald Rockenschaub, WHO’s Head of Office for the occupied Palestinian territory.
As of 6 August, according to the Ministry in Gaza, a cumulative total of 165 people have been killed and 17 557 people were injured by Israeli forces, since the mass demonstrations began in Gaza on 30 March 2018.
The current surge in humanitarian health needs is happening in the context of a chronic and increasingly precarious humanitarian crisis. Medicines and disposable supplies in Gaza are being depleted. There is a shortage of health staff and fuel reserve to generate electricity, which is currently sustaining essential life-saving services through emergency generators in the 14 public hospitals. These will be depleted by the middle of August.
“WHO continues to monitor the situation and to identify urgent life-saving health needs. Additional resources and funding are needed to sustain essential health services and to procure trauma and surgical supplies. WHO and health cluster partners urgently require US$ 17 million to respond to immediate priority needs in Gaza until the end of the year. Further funding will be needed for emergency preparedness and response over the comings weeks as the demonstrations and clashes continue,” said Dr Rockenschaub.
