CWS is launching an appeal to assist the DSPR health programme as it struggles to cope with emergency cases at its clinics.

“The situation in Gaza is absolutely disastrous,” reports Bernard Sabella, Director of the Department of Service to Palestinian Refugees (DSPR), a long term partner of CWS. “The bombardments are inflicting civilian casualties and Gaza is in the most deplorable humanitarian situation as the Israeli air strikes have devastated infrastructure.”

 “The 2000 beds in all the Gaza Strip hospitals are not able to cope with the casualties,” adds Mr Sabella. The DSPR health clinics are being called into service as triage bases, treating the more
serious injuries until people can be transferred to hospitals. The number of injured civilians continues to rise.

The DSPR, a programme of the Middle East Council of Churches, is calling on the international community to pressure the Israeli government for an immediate ceasefire. They are concerned for the hundreds of Palestinians falling victim to the bombings, the deprivation of food and water supplies and the long term psychological scars left on the people.

“The conflict in Gaza and in fact in Israel and Palestine cannot and will not be resolved by force. Only the victims pay the price and politicians are left to weigh the advantages to their positions, especially at the eve of upcoming Israeli elections. In the long run, however, what is right is right and violence
will not move us in this land towards an acceptable end of conflict,” says Mr Sabella.

CWS condemns the violent attacks by the government of Israel and Hamas, and continues to call for greater efforts towards negotiating a just solution that addresses the root causes of the conflict.

To support the people of Gaza, donate online or phone 0800 74 73 72.

For further information visit our emergencies section.

30 December 2008