Gaza: Red Cross and Red Crescent teams working to save lives in the Red Cross field hospital in Rafah
Gaza / Geneva (ICRC) – 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 orthopaedic injuries, and about 18 were injured,” said senior medical officer Sandy Inglis.
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 field hospital is a combined effort of 12 Red Cross National Societies to help address the overwhelming medical needs emanating from the ongoing conflict. ICRC 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.
SHOTLIST:
- 00:00:00 – 00:00:11 - PRCS Ambulance arrives at Red Cross field hospital with patients.
- 00:00:11 – 00:01:42 - Interview with Senior Medical Officer Sandy Inglis.
- 00:01:42 – 00:02:12 - Ambulances and patients arrive at the Red Cross field hospital.
Location: Rafah/Gaza
Length: 02:12
Filming date: 26.05.24 and 27.05.24
Copyright: ICRC access all
On Screen Credit: ICRC or logo
For further information, please contact:
Chris Hanger, ICRC Geneva, changer@icrc.org , +41 79 731 0403
Sarah Davies, ICRC Jerusalem, sadavies@icrc.org, +972 52 601 9150
Jessica Moussan, ICRC Dubai, jmoussan@icrc.org , +971 50 425 4091
or visit our website: www.icrc.org
