Red Cross, Red Crescent team working to save lives in the Red Cross field Hospital in Rafah, Palestine
COTABATO CITY (May 29, 2024) – The report that had reached the BMN and BangsamoroToday said that an influx of patients with severe injuries and burns from an airstrike arrived at the Red Cross field hospital in Rafah, Gaza, desperately needing treatment on the night of May 26th, 2024.
“We experienced first-hand the horror of this war, witnessing the appalling injuries and death. We had a mass casualty incident with about 30 patients, seven of them in critical condition with massive bleeding. Nine patients had horrendous orthopedic injuries, and about 18 were injured,” said senior medical officer Sandy Inglis in an interview.
ICRC said that medical staff at the Red Cross field hospital are already facing an influx of patients with severe injuries due to ongoing fighting, and increasing communicable diseases that could lead to potential outbreaks and complications related to chronic conditions.
“Amputations at the field hospital are common, as well as acute respiratory infections, gastrointestinal illnesses, and skin diseases, which are spreading rapidly through displaced communities due to a lack of clean water, sanitation, and access to food,” the report added.
The report says that the field hospital is a combined effort of 12 Red Cross National Societies to help address the overwhelming medical needs emanating from the ongoing conflict.
According to ICRC, its teams have also been providing surgical services at the European Gaza Hospital since November 2023, as well as supporting other hospitals through medical donations, assisting thousands of patients since the escalation of the conflict. (Tu Alid Alfonso, BMN/BangsamoroToday with a report from ICRC)
