Bombardments see Caritas partners evacuate medical points in Khan Younis, southern Gaza
17 Jul 24
The evacuated areas were the Elshafie’ Camp just 2km from the strikes, and the Elhayat Camp South of Asda’ Street 6km away.
A total of 14 Caritas Jerusalem staff members were present across both medical points at the time of the evacuation.
“Saturday, July 13th, 2024, was expected to be like any other morning for the medical teams at Caritas, who have endured 276 days of the war on Gaza. However, an incident in the Mawasi Khan Yunis area, home to two of our medical units, drastically altered the day” said an incident report received by Caritas Australia.
Despite the area being designated safe for humanitarian aid, successive missile fire landed around the medical units, resulting in many casualties, including deaths and injuries to children, women, pregnant women, and the elderly.
“The scene was horrifying, with tens of dead bodies and hundreds of injured people scattered everywhere. The cries for help from the wounded were heart-wrenching. The bombardment struck people inside their makeshift tents. Defence vehicles were also targeted, exacerbating the chaos. Civilians and ambulances rushed to evacuate victims and the injured, but the response was minimal compared to the overwhelming number of casualties,” said the report.
The bombing left fragments and rubble strewn across the medical units and their surroundings. With the main hospital in Khan Younis out of service, the injured were left without proper medical care. This attack led to widespread fear and panic, forcing the evacuation of the two medical units, along with all patients and medical staff to ensure their safety.
This attack follows a similar incident less than a week prior, where the Holy Family School in Gaza, a property of the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem sheltering hundreds of civilians, was bombarded.
Sally Thomas, Humanitarian Emergencies Lead at Caritas Australia said, “We are holding our colleagues in Gaza in our hearts this week, following this sobering reminder of the constant danger they operate under. With no true safe areas in the region, a ceasefire is the only way to ensure the lives of civilians are protected."
"We are devastated for the sick and injured relying on those health centers too. With the main hospital in the area no longer operational, these humanitarian-led medical points are the only places where civilians can access life-saving assistance. Re-establishing those facilities and replacing equipment will be time-consuming and costly, all under the threat of similar attacks in future.”