El Wafa Hospital under fire, Gaza Strip

PRESS RELEASE FROM EL WAFA HOSPITAL, GAZA STRIP, 16 APRIL 2008: On the 16th of April El Wafa Medical Rehabilitation Hospital and its premises in the besieged Gaza Strip, was targeted by Israeli tanks for the second time.

Shrapnel damage to wall and window El Wafa Hospital

The attack resulted in damage to the hospital buildings and infrastructure and premises and left massive damage to the departments, windows and caused a complete outage of power and water. The attack caused damage to the cable of the only generator in the hospital putting in great danger the life of the paralyzed and coma patients who need constant medical and nursing attention and frequent suctioning. Furthermore, all patients and staff are in a state of shock due to the relentless attacks in the vicinity and as well as inside the hospital. Shrapnel and bullets penetrated into the patients' rooms in every section of the hospital.

Based on these tragic events we would like to reaffirm the following:

1. El Wafa hospital strongly condemns this inhumane attack which has put the lives of our patients and staff in real danger.
2. El Wafa Rehabilitation Hospital is the only medical facility that treats and manages physically disabled cases with spinal cord and head injuries in the Gaza Strip.
3. This is the second time where the hospital buildings and infrastructure has been attacked as the first time was in February 2002 when two of our nursing staff were shot dead by Israeli military forces while positioning one of the spinal cord patients inside room No.214.
   NB: Since the beginning of the attack we have been in constant contact with international organisations especially the International Red Cross.
4. During the attack we have had a complete shut down of water and electricity.
5. The operating theatre of the hospital has stopped completely as a result of the Israeli military attack.
6. At this time of extreme poverty, fuel shortages and a strict siege on Gaza, our hospital has been the lung through which our disabled clients breathe.
7. At the end we ask the international community, human right's organisations, the United Nations, the World Health Organization and the International Red Cross Society to stop at nothing to put an end to these repeated acts of military aggression on civilians and health institutes patients and staff by Israel.

_______
El Wafa Medical Rehabilitation Hospital
Gaza
16-4-2008

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