(Gaza - 15/4/2018): PRCS’ Emergency Medical Teams (EMTs) attended to about 644 Palestinians wounded in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip as occupation forces cracked down on protesters taking part in the March of Return on Friday April 13, 2018.
PRCS’ teams provided first aid services to 458 casualties in the Gaza Strip alone, including 152 Palestinians shot with live ammunition, 223 tear gas suffocation cases, 46 tear gas canister wounds and 37 other casualties caused by shells, burns, falls and shrapnel.
In the West Bank, the PRCS medical teams provided their medical assistance to 186 casualties, including 136 tear gas suffocation cases, 42 rubber bullet wounds, 6 live ammunition wounds and 2 other casualties due to beating by Israeli soldiers, burns and falls.
PRCS’ teams also evacuated the body of one Palestinian killed in the Gaza Strip.
In addition, PRCS recorded 20 violations committed by Israeli occupation forces against its EMTs in the line of duty, with 14 PRCS’ members from the emergency medical teams and volunteers suffering from tear gas suffocation, and live ammunition in the West Bank and Gaza Strip. Five PRCS ambulances were attacked and sustained different damages in the Gaza Strip. These practices constitute a crying violation of International Humanitarian Law provisions which call for the respect and protection of medical missions as well as for facilitating their work.
Moreover, in the Gaza Strip, the Society’s Psychological First Aid Team provided psychological support to 468 wounded Palestinians and their families as well as to medical teams to help them overcome their trauma and grief and regain their balance.
It is worth mentioning that PRCS operated 58 ambulances and dispatched more than 250 volunteers and emergency medical technicians. It also erected 5 advanced medical posts to offer emergency services to people with minor to moderate injuries with around 177 doctors and nurses working in these medical posts.
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