Palestinian medics, volunteers keen to help Pakistanis trapped by water

ISLAMABAD: A 27-member Rapid Response and Rescue Team of Palestine arrived in Pakistan on Saturday on a humanitarian and relief mission to support the efforts of the Pakistani government in the areas devastated by floods.

The team that consists of medics, members of civil defence, technicians and support staff will participate in relief operations in districts of Dera Ismail Khan (DIK) and Tank in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) province.

There, they would not only provide medical assistance to the local community but would also support in their rehabilitation process.

Ambassador of Palestine to Pakistan, Ahmad Jawad Rabei, during a press briefing held at the Embassy of Palestine, introduced the 27-member contingent to the media persons and reaffirmed strong, multi-dimensional and close ties with Pakistan.

The embassy of Palestine has also donated medicines, food, dry fruit, milk and other nutritious items, especially for the health of the women and the children who are facing the worst catastrophe in Pakistan’s history.

The Palestinian ambassador said his government and the people highly valued relations with Pakistan. This is why when the news of the floods playing havoc in Pakistan was aired, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas announced launching of a donation campaign titled “In loyalty to Pakistan, Jerusalem is with you” for the victims of Pakistan’s floods through the Ministry of Awqaf and Religious Affairs.

In Friday sermons too, special prayers were offered for the flood affected people of Pakistan and donations came both in cash and kind, he said.

Abbas also issued instructions to send a Palestinian medical mission formed by the Ministry of Health, the Palestinian Red Crescent and the Civil Defence to provide all possible assistance to the affected people and contribute to rescuing and providing the necessary treatment, he said.

'Better experience of handling trauma’

Director General Palestinian International Cooperation Agency (PICA) Emad Al Zuhairi said it was an honour to serve the Pakistani people trapped by water. Our doctors have the experience of working trauma and emergencies he said adding they would handle the flood-affected people in a better way.

“Since we have years of experience of living under occupation and facing unusual conditions we can understand what it means to a family when their home is destroyed,” he said. To a question, he said the Palestinian volunteers will be in Pakistan for nine days during the first phase of the relief operation and will see later if the stay could be extended.

Pakistan’s Additional Secretary Javed Umrani said Pakistan highly appreciated the goodwill and humanitarian gesture of the Palestinian brothers and sisters.

One of the doctors in the team Dr Hadeel said she had done her house job from Pakistan Army’s Combine Military Hospital (CMH) in Rawalpindi. Other doctors in the team Dr Sarour, Dr Ali, Dr Mustafa and Dr Husni said it was their first visit to Pakistan yet they regarded it a great opportunity to serve their Pakistani brothers and sisters in their hour of crisis.