On 19 June the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) was able to evacuate six injured patients from Gaza to hospitals in Israel for urgently needed treatment not available in Gaza. It has also identified around 50 injured patients who may have to be evacuated in the near future.

According to figures given to the ICRC by hospitals and other emergency services on Sunday, about 130 people were killed and 630 injured in last week's clashes in Gaza and around 500 have been treated in hospital.

To respond to the crisis, the ICRC has been providing medical supplies to hospitals and other heath-care facilities in Gaza. Access to Gaza remains restricted at all entry points from Israel, but an ICRC vehicle carrying anaesthesia drugs and pain killers crossed into Gaza yesterday afternoon.

Frustrated

Eileen Daly, the ICRC's health coordinator for the West Bank and Gaza, said: "In addition to the stress imposed by the large number of patients over recent days and the long working hours, hospital staff are becoming increasingly frustrated about medical equipment breaking down. Due to the suspension of funds to the Palestinian Authority, it has often not been possible to maintain or replace medical equipment during the past year.

"The ICRC is working with hospitals and the authorities to find needed spare parts in Gaza if possible. Otherwise we will bring them in from outside."

She continued: "Hospital staff appreciate the fact that we were present even during the fighting last week, and that we were able to deliver material to them on a daily basis. They tell us that apart from that they felt abandoned by the outside world."

Read about the British Red Cross's emergency response work

Donate to the British Red Cross