Physicians for Human Rights-Israel (PHR-Israel)

Gaza Emergency Appeal

December 29, 2008

Gaza Hospitals Already Filled to Capacity; Medical Supplies on the Verge of Depletion


Since the beginning of attacks in Gaza three days ago, over 300 people have been reported dead, more than 1000 wounded, and many hundreds more are in need of immediate medical attention. With a medical system already on the verge of collapse as a result of the ongoing closure, 1.4 million civilians are in desperate need of urgent medical help from outside the Gaza Strip.


PHR-Israel has the means to transfer this help within days and is seeking to raise 700,000 USD during the next week for purchase and direct transfer of supplies to Gaza hospitals.

Palestinian hospitals in the Gaza Strip have asked us for help in securing the following items:



· Basic Sterilization equipment

· Needles

· Dressings

· Anesthetics

· Catheters

· Medical gases

· Endo-tracheal tubes

· Laryngoscope

· Oxygen

· Portable monitors, ventilators, ultrasounds and x- ray machines

· Clothing for medical teams

· 105 Essential Medications

· 225 Additional Medical Supplies

· 93 Laboratory items

· Electric Shaving Machine

· Trolleys

· Hospital beds



As the situation stands, Palestinian doctors are performing surgeries without surgical gloves, local or general anesthetics, gauze, sterilized equipment or sufficient oxygen for patients. All together, there are only 1,500 hospital beds available in Gaza ’s 13 publicly run hospitals. A fleet of 60 ambulances is now reduced by half. The endless flow of new wounded and the need for beds has led to a suspension of care for dozens of other patients, including cancer, cardiac, and other chronically ill patients, who have all been sent to their homes for the duration of the crisis. Patients are not being permitted entry to Egypt and all referrals out of Gaza via Erez crossing have been suspended.

We are turning to organizations and individuals like you who have demonstrated your respect for the right to health by generously supporting PHR-Israel in recent years.

The British Shalom-Salaam Trust (www.bsst.org.uk) is collecting funds on PHR-I's behalf and will transfer donations and associated Gift Aid (adding 28% to their value - see below). Payment details:


PAYMENT METHODS:

By cheque payable to BSST and sent to: BSST, PO Box 46081 , London W9 2ZF - quoting PHR-I

By bank transfer to HSBC sortcode 40-04-15 - account no 11576585 - international bank account number GB22MIDL40041511576585 - please quote your surname and initial

By credit card via CAF  http://www.cafonline.org/apps/Charities/BasicSearch.aspx?dsp_keywords=british+shalom+salaam+trust (they claim Gift Aid and deduct 5% of the total) quoting PHR-I in their instruction box

Please email  bsst@bsst.org.uk quoting PHR-I if you're paying by credit card or bank transfer so we can ensure the transaction is processed correctly.


You can increase your donation by 28% by sending BSST a Gift Aid declaration.

If you haven't already completed one, please include this with your cheque, or by email to  bsst@bsst.org.uk: "I wish that this and any future donations to the British Shalom-Salaam Trust (charity no 1103211) be treated as Gift Aid donations until further notice." (Donors should make this declaration only if they pay UK income or capital gains tax at least equal to the amount of tax recoverable by the British Shalom-Salaam Trust.) NB your postal address must be included.