Monday, January 12, 2009 - People continue to flee from areas hard hit by fierce bombing and fighting. In southern Israel, rockets launched from Gaza continue to injure civilians. In the Gaza Strip, hundreds of families have left their homes over the past two days in neighborhoods such as Jabaliya, Beit Lahiya and Zaytun in the north and in border areas in the south.
The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) and the Palestine Red Crescent Society (PRCS) are working around the clock to transport the wounded to hospitals, reinforcing medical teams, delivering medical and relief supplies and bringing in spare parts to repair generators.
In southern Israel, Magen David Adom (MDA), Israel's equivalent to the Red Cross, medical staff have continued to evacuate people injured by rockets and missiles in Ashdod, Ashkelon and Sderot and in nearby villages. Over the past two days, four civilians have been injured by shrapnel and almost 50 others have suffered from shock.
According to the latest figures provided by the Palestinian Ministry of Health, just under 50 per cent of all wounded people currently arriving at Gaza hospitals are women and children. Most hospitals in the Gaza Strip continue to run on generators to keep life-saving equipment operating without interruption. Shifa Hospital is running low on fuel, which is putting 470 patients at risk, including 60 currently being cared for in the intensive care unit.
Access into Gaza remains restricted, hindering the delivery of assistance, as well as gas, food, grain and medical supplies. The power network has been damaged, affecting water, sanitation, and other utilities. The delivery of necessary medical supplies to hospitals has not been possible for several days causing shortages of medicine and other supplies.
The American Red Cross has contributed $250,000 to the ICRC and $250,000 to the PRCS in support of their efforts to address the increasing humanitarian needs for medical support, hospital supplies, and relief distributions. Assistance has also been offered to the MDA if the need arises.
You can help the victims of countless crises around the world each year by making a financial gift to the American Red Cross International Response Fund, which will provide immediate relief and long-term support through supplies, technical assistance and other support to help those in need. The American Red Cross honors donor intent. If you wish to designate your donation to a specific disaster, please do so at the time of your donation by mailing your donation with the designation to the American Red Cross, P.O. Box 37243 , Washington, D.C. 20013 or to your local American Red Cross chapter. Donations to the International Response Fund can be made by phone at 1-800-REDCROSS or 1-800-257-7575 (Spanish) or online at www.redcross.org.
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