Hong Kong Red Cross provide humanitarian relief in Gaza Strip

With over 38,000 Palestinians killed and approximately 1.9 million displaced in the embattled strip in the ongoing Israel-Gaza war, the Hong Kong Red Cross continues its efforts of dispatching local medical personnel to provide critical on-site humanitarian support.

Hong Kong Red Cross has previously allocated HK$1.6 million to the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) to aid those impacted by the ongoing war. 

With one medical personnel currently in Gaza, another of the city's volunteer doctors is set to leave to join hands in supporting the region as early as next month.

The HKRC, in collaboration with other Red Cross National Societies, established the Red Cross Field Hospital, which commenced operations in May of this year. The hospital provides a wide range of essential medical services and psychosocial support to the beleaguered population.

As of early July, the hospital has served over 10,000 injured and sick patients, admitting around 500 inpatients. They are primarily responsible for maintaining hospital operations and caring for and treating the injured.

Chairman of the HKRC Lau Chor-chiu, noted that the organization has an array of support and measures for these medical personnel who are volunteering in such a "high-risk" rescue operation.

"Before their departures, we explained the details of the operations and safety matters to the medical personnel and provided them with equipment such as tents, sleeping bags, and phone cards,” Lau said. 

“In addition, to ensure the good mental condition of them in the face of ongoing armed conflict and casualties, the HKRC is always ready to provide remote mental health and psychological support services. The ICRC has also deployed specialized personnel on-site to take care of the mental health of medical personnel.” he said. 

According to a Hong Kong Red Cross spokesman, the Red Cross Field Hospital has obtained a "green light" from relevant stakeholders and authorities and therefore been considered a designated "humanitarian zone", granting it protection in the conflict-affected area.

Nonetheless, anxiety and uncertainty loomed as the Israeli forces launched a deadly attack this past Saturday on Al-Mawasi, an area that had been previously declared a safe zone and designed as a humanitarian corridor. 

Having been on 26 rescue missions, including nine in active war zones with Gaza being one, Au Yiu-kai, a seasoned medical relief worker, said that the current humanitarian situation in Gaza is by far the "worst crisis" he has witnessed throughout over two decades of experience. 

Having previously served at the European Gaza Hospital back in December, and more recently having returned from a mission in South Sudan on Saturday, Au will be returning to Gaza to work in the Red Cross Field Hospital in early August through mid-September, as he continues supporting the relief efforts in Gaza.