Hospital Under Siege

12:00 Noon. PRCS resumes emergency ambulance services in Ramallah despite the fact that the Israeli army has stalled on any decision to assure safety of medical crews. This difficult decision stems from PRCS commitment to save lives and lessen human suffering.

Over 42 cases including mothers in labor, heart attacks, dialysis patients, injuries and other critical illnesses are on PRCS dispatch list by 1 pm on March 13. Two had died over night.

Ramallah Ministry of Health Hospital

Ministry of health confirmed lack of oxygen, medical and technical staff. Technicians have not been allowed to reach the hospital to repair electricity and water supply cut by damage caused by Israeli tanks the afternoon of March 12. The hospital has been under siege by Israeli tanks since the onset of the invasion the early morning hours of March 12. Surgeons and nurses under curfew have not been allowed to go to the hospital.

Blood supply

Arabcare hospital (30-bed private facility) has been requesting blood, but PRCS ambu-lances could not deliver the units during the morning of March 13. An Italian journalist has died at Arabcare from wounds sustained after being shot by the Israeli army. Arabcare doctors had requested O type blood units from PRCS ambulances. Arabcare hospital continues to handle many injuries due to the siege imposed by Israeli tanks on Ramallah ministry of health hospital.

Source: PRCS press release March 13, 2002, www.palestinercs.org