Informing humanitarians worldwide 24/7 — a service provided by UN OCHA

oPt + 1 more

OPT: Caritas Jerusalem provides enhanced first aid kits to 23 physicians in Gaza

(Jerusalem - July 26, 2006) - Caritas Jerusalem has completed the distribution of 23 first aid kits to qualified doctors according to a plan formulated in partnership with the Palestinian Ministry of Health (PMOH). Additional requests have been received for ten (10) more of these kits.

Due to the continued bombardment of Gaza, the limited access to medical care and the need to address urgent medical situations through out Gaza, Caritas Jerusalem has provided these kits to allow physicians living in areas where no hospitals are present to offer on-the-spot emergency medical care to the injured in Gaza.

All of the physicians took part in a meeting with the emergency team from the PMOH. The first aid kits were distributed and targeted to areas of intense fighting to the following physicians and regions:

1. Bet Hanoun region

a. Zeitoun region

b. Al Burra

c. Al Haouz

2. Bet Lahyia region

a. As Salateen

b. Al Ataterah

c. Saknet Gabán

d. Al Manshiyyeh

3. Al Maslah region

4. Al Mashruah Bet Lahyia

5. Jabaliyah City and Camp

a. Burj As Sultan

b. Jabaliyah Center

c. Jabaliyah Camp

d. Bir Al Najeh

e. Al Sikkeh

f. Tel Zatar

6. Shijayyeh region

7. Zeitoun region

a. Zeitoun

b. Ali ibn Abi Talleb

8. Southern Rimal region

a. Tel el Hawa

b. Naser region

c. Rimal

9. Briej Camp

This support has been made possible due to the support of numerous Caritas partner organizations who have supported Caritas Jerusalem's Special Operations Appeal (SOA) "Emergency Support for Palestine." So far Caritas partners from Australia, Belgium Canada, England, Japan, Spain, Luxembourg, Italy, Ireland, Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Holland and France as well as other organizations such as Aid to the Church in Need from Germany have committed to support this appeal. This appeal was issued in May for almost 1.5 million USD.

Caritas Jerusalem urges for an immediate cessation of violence in Gaza and requests that all parties end attacks and counter attacks so that efforts to restore order, treat the injured and get aid to those in need can take place. Killing, aggression, hostage taking and efforts to harm a civilian population are wrong and must be condemned in the strongest terms with a view to end them immediately.

Please contact your religious leaders and elected representatives and demand from them to act to ensure that the situation in Palestine, Israel and Lebanon not be allowed to spiral out of control and descend into a deeper abyss of despair, hopelessness and violence. Gaza particularly needs to see an end to violence. -END-

Contact: Caritas Jerusalem - Communications Officer
P O Box 20894 - Jerusalem
Phone: 972 2 628 7574 - Fax: 972 2 628 8421 - Email: communication@caritasjr.org