Emergency Interventions in East Jerusalem 2021

Attacks by Israeli police and military forces in and around Al Aqsa Mosque on 7th May left more than 150 Palestinians wounded

More than 150 Palestinians were wounded following attacks by Israeli police and military forces in and around Al Aqsa Mosque on Friday 7th May, and hundreds more in the following days. Israeli police used water cannons, stun grenades and mounted police, and the majority of those injured were at Al Aqsa Mosque, inside the Old City. As it was the month of Ramadan, thousands of Palestinians went regularly to pray at Al Aqsa Mosque (the third holiest site in Islam.)

The director of Makassed Hospital’s emergency department reported admitting 83 patients with rubber bullet injuries. 25 of these patients were seriously and severely injured with bullet wounds in the head and upper body, some with loss of sight.

Ceasefire in Gaza following a subsequent bombardment came in at 2am on 21.5.2021

WA’s Emergency Interventions in East Jerusalem include:

• Providing 12 PRCS ambulances with emergency medical equipment, consumables and disposables, so they can continue to treat injured patients on site and on the way to hospital
• Providing two months’ supply of fuel for 12 ambulances and repairing ambulances that were damaged in the violence
• Providing a ranged of urgently needed medical items and medicines to Makassed Hospital in East Jerusalem, which was receiving hundreds of injured patients throughout May and running short of essential supplies,
• Supporting Makassed Hospital by covering the medical costs of 150 patients who could not afford treatment
• Distributing food vouchers to 900 impoverished families in East Jerusalem,  who were able to exchange these vouchers for food items they needed in pre-qualified stores

Emergency medical supplies, including antibiotics, arriving at the Pharmacy of  Makassed Hospital in East Jerusalem (10 June 2021)

These projects will also help to prepare for any future emergencies. They will deliver vital medical supplies to Makassed Hospital, which always receives large numbers of injured people during any emergency. They will also replenish exhausted stock so they are able to continue their emergency services and surgeries for those injured. 

To find out more, please watch our video here   

Thank you for your supporting our East Jerusalem Emergency Appeal this year.