SAUDI KING DONATES SR 10 M TO BOLSTER GAZA HEALTH SERVICES

        Jeddah, 22 Shafar 1434 H/4 January 2013 (Arab News/MINA) – Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah yesterday instructed Saudi authorities to supply medicine and medical appliances worth SR 10 million to support hospitals in Gaza, the Saudi Press Agency said.

       “Efforts are under way to rush this assistance to our brethren in the Gaza Strip,” said Ahmed Qattan, Saudi ambassador to Egypt and the Kingdom’s permanent representative at the Arab League.

        The World Health Organization said it is working with health partners to ensure that essential medicines and medical consumables are delivered to health facilities in Gaza.

        “WHO has appealed to the international community for support in providing essential medical supplies by coordinating donations according to specific needs,” the organization said in a statement.

        The main challenge to Gaza’s health sector before and during the Nov. 14-21 Israeli bombardment was the unavailability of drugs and medical supplies. “More than 40% of the essential drug items in the essential drug list and more than 50% of medical consumables were out of stock before and during the crisis,” the WHO said.

        The Palestinian Ministry of Health reported 182 fatalities as a result of the eight days of Israeli military operation in Gaza; 47 (26%) of them were children, including 16 under 5, 12 women and 6 elderly above 60. Most of the fatalities (87.9%) had multiple injuries. (T/R-009/R-006)

Mi’raj News Agency (MINA)