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Gaza wounded to be helped by NHS experts | Gaza wounded to be helped by NHS experts |
(about 5 hours later) | |
The UK is to send a team of NHS medical experts to help those who have been left wounded by the fighting in Gaza, Downing Street has said. | The UK is to send a team of NHS medical experts to help those who have been left wounded by the fighting in Gaza, Downing Street has said. |
Staff including doctors, nurses and anaesthetists will fly out to the area within the next 48 hours. | Staff including doctors, nurses and anaesthetists will fly out to the area within the next 48 hours. |
Hostilities broke out between Israeli forces and Hamas on Friday after the end of a three-day ceasefire. | Hostilities broke out between Israeli forces and Hamas on Friday after the end of a three-day ceasefire. |
The Stop the War coalition is holding a march through central London on Saturday, passing the US embassy. | The Stop the War coalition is holding a march through central London on Saturday, passing the US embassy. |
More than 1,900 Palestinians, mostly civilians, have been killed in four weeks of violence in the Gaza Strip, the UN says. | More than 1,900 Palestinians, mostly civilians, have been killed in four weeks of violence in the Gaza Strip, the UN says. |
Sixty-seven people have died on the Israeli side, including three civilians. | Sixty-seven people have died on the Israeli side, including three civilians. |
'Crucial role' | 'Crucial role' |
Prime Minister David Cameron said: "The conflict in Gaza has taken a terrible toll. The UK has been at the forefront of humanitarian efforts to help those affected and it is right that we see what more we can do. | Prime Minister David Cameron said: "The conflict in Gaza has taken a terrible toll. The UK has been at the forefront of humanitarian efforts to help those affected and it is right that we see what more we can do. |
"The NHS has always stepped up to the plate to help those in need and this expert team will play a crucial role in helping hundreds caught up in this conflict." | "The NHS has always stepped up to the plate to help those in need and this expert team will play a crucial role in helping hundreds caught up in this conflict." |
The health professionals being flown out to help are on the government's international emergency trauma register, which also includes paramedics and surgeons. | The health professionals being flown out to help are on the government's international emergency trauma register, which also includes paramedics and surgeons. |
Human cost of the conflict | Human cost of the conflict |
Palestinian deaths | Palestinian deaths |
Israeli deaths | Israeli deaths |
(Source: OCHA; 0500 GMT on 8 August) | (Source: OCHA; 0500 GMT on 8 August) |
All medics on the register have volunteered their services, and are given training and called upon to respond to situations around the world. | |
Professor Tony Redmond, who is co-ordinating the Gaza operation, said an initial 15 UK medics would be sent out "in a staged process". | |
They would be expecting to treat people who have lost limbs and have "chronically-infected wounds", he told BBC Radio 4's Today programme. | |
"There is a sad pattern of injury with these conflicts and it is that that we will be looking at addressing", he added. | |
The NHS staff will initially be based with the charity Medical Aid for Palestinians at Al Mokassed hospital in east Jerusalem. | The NHS staff will initially be based with the charity Medical Aid for Palestinians at Al Mokassed hospital in east Jerusalem. |
Although their primary objective is to treat people in the region, Downing Street said some of the injured - particularly children - may need to be brought to the UK for treatment at specialist trauma centres. | Although their primary objective is to treat people in the region, Downing Street said some of the injured - particularly children - may need to be brought to the UK for treatment at specialist trauma centres. |
The medics are being funded by UK aid from the Department for International Development. The UK has already contributed £17m in emergency relief for Gaza. | The medics are being funded by UK aid from the Department for International Development. The UK has already contributed £17m in emergency relief for Gaza. |
"The [emergency trauma] register was launched by the International Development Secretary Justine Greening in December 2012 and enables British medical experts to provide humanitarian assistance during disasters overseas," a government spokesman said. | "The [emergency trauma] register was launched by the International Development Secretary Justine Greening in December 2012 and enables British medical experts to provide humanitarian assistance during disasters overseas," a government spokesman said. |
Ms Greening added: "A month of violence in Gaza has left people in desperate need of immediate medical help. Every day of continuing violence adds to that. | Ms Greening added: "A month of violence in Gaza has left people in desperate need of immediate medical help. Every day of continuing violence adds to that. |
"The volunteers on the register are experts in working in the most challenging conditions and will help hundreds of Gazans caught up in this violence." | "The volunteers on the register are experts in working in the most challenging conditions and will help hundreds of Gazans caught up in this violence." |