Gaza's children refused exit for treatment

GAZA’S SERIOUSLY wounded children offered treatment in Europe are being prevented from travelling to host countries by the internationally recognised Palestinian Authority based in the West Bank city of Ramallah.

Last Thursday, the Authority’s ministry of health operations room issued a directive stating that there is “no more reason to refer any more children for treatment abroad.”

Consequently, four children have been unable to take up the offer of treatment in France because they have been denied entry into Egypt, at the request of Ramallah, although tickets had been booked for each child and a parent or guardian. Egypt remains the only exit from Gaza for most wounded Palestinians.

Amira Ghirim, (15) lost all her family after her home was hit by an Israeli bomb. She survived four days in the ruins before being rescued. She and Alla Abu Daggan, (16) have multiple fractures which require specialist attention. Iman Khadum (9) and Hazem Abu Odeh (13), have bleeding from the kidneys which doctors here cannot stem.

On Friday, the four were taken by ambulance from Shifa hospital in Gaza city, a 40-minute drive over rough roads, to the border straddled by the divided city of Rafah. Although the children had clearance documents and had been told they would get through, Egyptian immigration did not allow them to cross. They were insulted and told to return on Saturday.

They spent the night at the EU-funded European hospital near Rafah and returned to the border on Saturday afternoon.

Hazem went home with his father; the girls remain in the chaotic wards where post-war patients compete for attention with war wounded.

Dr Ibrahim Ashour, the physician handling transfers, said the hospital would not let them make the journey again because it is too tiring for them. .

In spite of this order, a long queue of people desperately gripping medical reports had formed outside his office, demanding a passage to Egypt. Rumour has it that the border is about to close to all wounded. However, another youth said that his father and brother (12), a double amputee, may have made it to Egypt yesterday. Confusion reigns.