(ANS - Gaza)– The health care system in Gaza is collapsing. Hospitals and pharmacies are without half of the drugs included in the World Health Organization list of essential medicines. For this reason all the Italian NGOs in Palestine, including VIS (the International Voluntary Service for Development), have launched an appeal to collect medications.  

Currently, the Gaza Strip is cut off from the world. The borders with Egypt and Israel are closed.  Hospitals, ambulances and first aid centres are constantly under threat of bombing. Despite this, the medical staff continue to provide relief without interruption.

Among the medical devices they need are 470 types of sterile disposable materials, including needles, syringes, cotton, disinfectants, gloves and much more. There is no fuel for ambulances, nor for the generators that are needed to operate the life-saving equipment and operating theatres during the twelve hours or more each day when the power plant fails and there is no electricity. There are not enough blood bags to meet the needs of the hundreds and hundreds who are injured.

To help the defenceless population, all the Italian NGOs in Palestine, including VIS, are collecting donations to provide medicines, medical supplies, and other essential goods. Donations of any amount are needed to save the lives of innocent victims.

Although the collection is shared among all the NGOs, for logistical reasons one account is used, that of Terre des Hommes Italia, for all donations.

Published 16/07/2014