The Qatar Red Crescent Society (QRCS) office in Gaza was hit in an air strike, the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) Director General Robert Mardini said on May 18.
“Shocked that the Qatar Red Crescent office in Gaza was hit in an air strike. Luckily al QRCS staff are safe. But all steps must be taken to ensure medical infrastructures and staff are protected. This incident will only hinder humanitarian response at this critical time,” Mardini said in a press release. “An air strike where QRCS is located in Gaza caused severe damage to their premises. None of the staff suffered as a result but health care workers must be respected and allowed to continue their life-saving work. They are not part of the fight and are protected under IHL,” he wrote.
Shocked that the Qatar #RedCrescent office in #Gaza was hit in an air strike. Luckily all @QRCS staff are safe. But all steps must be taken to ensure medical infrastructures & staff are protected. This incident will only hinder humanitarian response at this critical time. pic.twitter.com/cCnbHxfpec
— Robert Mardini (@RMardiniICRC) May 18, 2021
The Qatar Red Crescent Society is at the forefront providing all forms of assistance for the people of the Gaza Strip, particularly medical and ambulatory services, as well as mobilising international support to intervene and put an end to this human tragedy.
Israel Defense Forces (IDF) has been carrying out airstrikes against Hamas in the Gaza Strip as a response to the militant group, which started launching hundreds of rockets into Israel on May 10. The ICRC said the organization is closely monitoring the humanitarian impact of the fighting and is communicating with both sides about the need to adhere to their obligations under international humanitarian law.
Despite the bombing of its building, the Qatar Red Crescent Society said it will continue to work in the Gaza Strip, Sputnik quoted QRCS Executive Director of International Relief and Development Sector Faisal Al-Emadi as saying.
“We in the Qatar Red Crescent pledge to continue our humanitarian projects to help our people in Palestine, and coordination is underway to implement a relief movement worth one million dollars to help the affected people in cooperation with the Palestinian Red Crescent,” Al-Emadi said, adding that the Qatar Red Crescent activated the Disaster Management Information Center on May 8 to collect information and track events through its mission in Gaza and direct coordination with the Palestinian Red Crescent and the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies.
