Communiqué de presse Middle East: an update on the Lebanon crisis
The current Lebanese crisis, where Médecins du Monde has sent emergency teams, should not overshadow the critical situation faced by those living in the Gaza Strip. In response to the serious nature of the injuries and growing concern over access to healthcare, MdM has sent an emergency surgical team to Shifa Hospital in Gaza.
Lebanon: a non-existent truce
Médecins du Monde has been on the ground since 12 July. Five mobile teams are currently treating refugees in the eastern and southern suburbs of Beirut. MdM and our Lebanese partner AMEL have carried out around 1,200 consultations.
In Southern Lebanon, our teams have distributed medicines and equipment in the clinics and hospitals.
As a result of the ceasefire announced by the Israeli authorities, we were able to conduct consultations in Marjayoun and Klaya, areas of transit for many of the refugees from the South. According to Nicolas Seris, MdM Co-ordinator “Only those who can afford it are leaving their villages. The refugees have told us the weak, elderly or poor were left behind in villages that were bombed in the days that followed their departure.” These villages are still cut off: in spite of the truce announced and regularly broken, the bombing means that humanitarian aid cannot reach villages which are close to the Israeli border.
Once again, Médecins du Monde joins those condemning the lack of access to victims and demands an immediate ceasefire in order to spare the civilian population on both sides.
Gaza: serious injuries and a collapsing healthcare system
The Israeli attacks which have been going on since 28 June 2006, are hitting a population already weakened by the economic embargo put in place in February 2006 by Israel and the international community.
On top of the war-like conditions, the non-stop violence, electricity cuts and water shortages, fuel and oil restrictions and the fact that the local authorities are unable to collect rubbish, mean that daily life is enormously difficult for the population of Gaza.
A survey conducted by Médecins du Monde at the start of the mission entitled, ‘Summer Rain’ (see 11 July press release) revealed serious cause for concern in relation to access to water, food and healthcare.
Hospitals are the first to suffer from the decision to stop international aid, and the almost total impossibility of getting equipment into the country.
The most notable humanitarian volunteers in Gaza are the Palestinian health professionals themselves, as they have been working for almost six months now without pay. Faced with a population that is becoming poorer and poorer and more and more unwell, who are being cared for in hospitals which are more and more overcrowded, dirtier and with ever more exhausted staff, the healthcare system is collapsing. As a result of lack of access and electricity cuts, healthcare centres are unable to provide continuous care.
Healthcare provision for the hundreds of victims (157 dead and 550 injured since 28/6) is extremely precarious.
Because of the seriousness of the injuries we are witnessing (multiple injuries, shrapnel wounds, amputees, burns) for which there are no specialists available locally, Médecins du Monde will send out a surgical team on 3 August consisting of a surgeon, an anaesthetics nurse and two theatre nurses.
They will join the teams at the public hospital in Shifa, focusing on complex postoperative care.
Médecins du Monde condemns the indiscriminate use of armed violence against all civilians.
In Lebanon and Gaza, the sick and the injured cannot be helped.
In denying access to the victims, the Israeli government is in breach of International Humanitarian Law. Once again, we call on the Israeli Government to stop their attacks on civilians, to put in place humanitarian corridors and to take responsibility for caring for the injured.