JAKARTA: An Indonesian medical team has arrived in Gaza as part of an emergency deployment led by the World Health Organization (WHO) to provide much-needed medical assistance amid the ongoing crisis.
The team, consisting of 11 doctors and nurses, has entered Gaza and is stationed in Rafah, where they will work at a local hospital for a minimum of two weeks. This deployment follows the Israeli military campaign that began in October, exacerbating the humanitarian situation in the besieged enclave.
Sarbini Abdul Murad, chairman of the executive committee of the Indonesian NGO Medical Emergency Rescue Committee (MER-C), announced the deployment during a press conference in Jakarta on Tuesday. He highlighted the critical need for medical workers in Gaza, where the population is facing dire circumstances due to ongoing Israeli violence and a deteriorating humanitarian situation.
The Indonesian volunteers, coordinated by MER-C, have joined efforts with WHO to provide emergency medical support to the people of Gaza. Their mission is especially crucial as nearly 32,000 Palestinians have been killed in Israel’s air and ground campaign, and half of the enclave’s 2.4 million residents are experiencing severe hunger and starvation, according to the United Nations.
Indonesian Medics Continue Healthcare Services in Gaza
Previously stationed at the Indonesia Hospital in north Gaza, Indonesian volunteers were compelled to relocate to the southern part of the enclave after the hospital, along with many other public facilities, was destroyed by Israeli military actions.
Despite challenges in gaining access to Gaza amid continued Israeli violence, MER-C continued its efforts to send medical aid. Murad emphasized the organization’s commitment to supporting the people of Gaza, stating, “This long journey has not been tiring for us, as it is a big responsibility to help our brothers in Gaza.”
The Indonesian medical team forms part of a larger international emergency deployment led by WHO, comprising orthopedic physicians and surgical nurses to address injuries caused by bombings, missile attacks, and gunshots.
MER-C is rallying support from Indonesian medics to form a medical coalition aimed at sustaining the provision of healthcare to Gaza on an ongoing basis. Murad underscored the global significance of addressing the crisis in Gaza, urging collective action to alleviate the suffering of its residents.
