Welsh Help For Gaza Children

Main Category: Aid / Disasters
Article Date: 19 Jan 2009 - 3:00 PDT

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Plaid Cymru is proposing that Wales takes part in European efforts to offer medical treatment to Palestinian children injured in the Israeli invasion of Gaza.

Jill Evans MEP and Plaid President Dafydd Iwan will make the call at a protest march in Cardiff on Saturday 17 January to demand an immediate ceasefire.

The European Union initiative was proposed by the Belgian government. The European Commission would co-ordinate the medical evacuation of badly injured Palestinian children who cannot receive the critical treatment they need in Gaza.

The first children were evacuated by the Belgian Air Force on Wednesday and are being treated at hospitals in Brussels. Other countries that have offered medical assistance include Luxembourg, Cyprus and Greece.

Jill Evans MEP said:

"We are writing to the Welsh Health Minister to propose that Wales offers help and assistance to badly injured Palestinian children who cannot get the specialist treatment they need in Gaza due to the Israeli invasion.

"Belgium is leading the way at EU level and the first medical evacuation has already taken place. Other countries have offered to help and Wales could also play its part. The Assembly government is responsible for health so this is a very real way in which we can help the most vulnerable.

"I have seen how hospitals in Gaza struggled to cope during the siege. Under the constant military bombardment they are completely overwhelmed.

"Only this week we saw the destruction of a Wales' funded medical centre in Gaza."

Dafydd Iwan added:

"The nature of some of the injuries suffered by Palestinian civilians is horrifying and local medical services are struggling to cope.

"This conflict has so far cost the lives of well over a thousand Palestinians including more than three hundred children. There are reported to be around five thousand injured of which 1,600 are children. Doctors in Gaza describe horrific injuries, many requiring amputation, and suspect that Israel has been using white phosphorus shells which leave terrible burns.

"There has been worldwide revulsion at the massacre of civilians in Gaza. Wales can now play a part in helping the wounded children by offering medical help."

Letter to Welsh Health Minister

Dear Mrs Hart

Medical Evacuation of Palestinian Children

You may be aware that the Government of Belgium has proposed that the European Commission co-ordinate efforts at EU level to organise the medical evacuation of wounded Palestinian children from the Gaza strip who are unable to access specialist treatment.

We understand that other countries including Cyprus, Luxembourg and Greece have already offered support and that the first airlift has arrived in Brussels.

Wales has a proud history of offering help and support to those in need, and I believe we could and should assist in these humanitarian efforts to offer medical treatment to Palestinian children.

With this in mind we ask you to make contact with the European Commission, the Government of Belgium, and the UK Government as well as officials in your own department in order to ascertain how Wales might be able to help with current humanitarian efforts.

We trust you will deal with this matter with the utmost urgency.

Yours sincerely

Dafydd Iwan (President, Plaid Cymru)

Jill Evans MEP (Vice President) Plaid Cymru

http://www.plaidcymru.org