Health Ministry awaiting green light to deploy medical team in Gaza

PUTRAJAYA: The Health Ministry has identified a medical aid team to be deployed in Palestine’s Gaza Strip.

It said, however, the team cannot be deployed yet because the green light has yet to be received in view of the current hostilities in the area.

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It added that the team’s deployment involved the cooperation of the Foreign Affairs Ministry and other public agencies, as well as the International Red Crescent Movement.

“The team will be given appropriate preparatory training as (their work will) involve treating war victims,” it said in a statement on Monday (Nov 13).

Meanwhile, the ministry said the third delivery of consumables and medicines will be made soon.

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He said the first batch of medical aid was sent on Nov 3 and the second on Nov 11, each consignment totalling 20 tonnes.

It includes consumables like syringe pumps, sutures, intravenous cannulas, dressings and bandages, neurosurgery and surgical trauma services as well as equipment like medical beds and suitable medicines.

The ministry said these additional materials are aimed at meeting the urgent and much-needed requirements of the people in Gaza.

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It also stressed that the bombing of hospitals is an act that violates human rights, is inhumane, and also contravenes the Geneva Conventions.

It said such actions must be stopped immediately to allow hospitals that are still operating to continue providing medical care to injured Palestinians.

It also said that based on information from Gaza-Medics Worldwide, one-third of the 35 hospitals in the Gaza Strip have been destroyed, making it imperative to repair and improve the remaining medical facilities there. – BK