Oxygen, And Other Critical Supplies Unable To Reach Nablus Hospitals by LAW 9:01am Wed Apr 10 '02 Hospitals in Nablus confirmed today to LAW that they have been running out of key supplies, in particular oxygen. The General Director of Rafidia Hospital, Dr. Husam Al-Johari confirmed to LAW that the hospitals, including Rafidia, have been requesting the urgent supply of oxygen for about three days but that this had still not been delivered. He said that as at 7.30 pm local time, oxygen at the hospital was down to half a cylinder. print article Oxygen, And Other Critical Supplies Unable To Reach Nablus Hospitals 9 April 2002 Hospitals in Nablus confirmed today to LAW that they have been running out of key supplies, in particular oxygen. The General Director of Rafidia Hospital, Dr. Husam Al-Johari confirmed to LAW that the hospitals, including Rafidia, have been requesting the urgent supply of oxygen for about three days but that this had still not been delivered. He said that as at 7.30 pm local time, oxygen at the hospital was down to half a cylinder. He was unable to estimate how much longer it would last, depending upon the number of injured to be treated. At that stage they had 30 injured patients, including 14 babies. One child with a critical gunshot wound to the head, and other injured patients, were still due to arrive at the hospital. Another about 40 injured patients were being treated at the other Nablus hospitals, which were reporting as well an urgent need for oxygen supplies. Dr. Al-Johari expressed his fears that the lack of oxygen could lead to the deaths of some of those critically injured, including babies. Earlier on today, the ICRC had sought to deliver oxygen supplies to Nablus from Jenin, and also had 10 ambulances ready to evacuate the dead and injured. However, in spite of close coordination with the Israeli military, the ICRC oxygen truck came under fire from Israeli soldiers. Consequently, the ICRC suspended its further attempts to bring the crucial oxygen supplies to the hospitals, and to evacuate the injured and dead bodies. LAW sought to coordinate further attempts to bring oxygen supplies through to Nablus this afternoon and had received verbal assurances from the Israeli military that oxygen supplies would be let through and that ICRC/Red Crescent staff would be unharmed. However, as a result of the previous attack on the ICRC vehicle, in spite of similar assurances from the Israeli military, due to concern for the safety of its staff, the ICRC refrained from making any further attempts at delivery this evening. LAW expresses extreme concern as to the on going obstruction and attacks by the Israeli military leading to the inability of the ICRC and PRCS to carry out their humanitarian tasks, and ultimately in unnecessary deaths. Deliberate attacks have continued against their personnel and ambulances/supply trucks even after previous coordination with the Israeli military. LAW reaffirms the Israeli military duties to ensure access to humanitarian aid and medical treatment for injured or sick Palestinians, and the safety of medical personnel and vehicles. The deliberate targeting of medical personnel and ambulances, and deliberate denial of access to humanitarian and medical treatment leading to deaths or unnecessary suffering, amount to grave breaches of the Fourth Geneva Convention, i.e. war crimes. LAW reiterates the call made by the ICRC to the international community to pressure Israel to ensure its respect for its obligations under international humanitarian law, and to enable the ICRC and PRCS to carry out their duties. LAW calls for the imposition of effective measures including economic sanctions to ensure Israel's compliance with IHL, and the immediate deployment of an international protection presence. add your comments