ISLAMABAD - Pakistan Islamic Medical Association (PIMA) on Saturday urged the international community to take measures to stop Israeli aggression against Palestinians.
President PIMA Dr Khubaib Shahid in his letter to Secretary-General UN António Guterres urged the UN chief to take a unified position to halt barbaric carnages in Gaza and to end brutal use of power by Israel against Palestinian civilians, provide full protection to health facilities in Gaza Strip.
and address the urgent health care need of the besieged population.
“PIMA along with other Islamic medical associations is also ready to provide medicines, supplies, PPEs and surgical equipment from our resources, for the people of Gaza at the earliest possible dates. A large number of specialist surgeons, physicians allied with PIMA are ready to become a part of UN medical squad to provide help to the ailing population at Gaza Strip.”
Dr Khubaib in his letter said that PIMA, one of the largest organisations of physicians of Pakistan, was very much concerned over the news received from Gaza as 212 Palestinians had been killed, including 61 children, 36 women, elderly people and leaving behind over 1400 critically wounded, requiring urgent medical care. “These wounded people are left on the mercy of destroyed, bombarded and makeshift type medical centres. To call it a war is in itself a mockery of words; it is simple brutal manslaughter of besieged legitimate citizens of Palestine,” he said.
He said that according to Deputy Minister of Health Gaza, the Israeli forces had directly targeted the Palestine Ministry of Health facilities and destroyed primary health care centres leaving scores of patients in disarray. Israeli forces purposefully targeted the central laboratory’s services, including coronavirus testing, COVID-19 vaccinations, maternity services, and telemedicine. Israeli planes also targeted several blocks in Gaza making road access to major hospitals impossible.
PIMA, representing Pakistani doctors, also condemned and censured Israeli brutality against health care professionals including Dr. Ayman Abu al-Ouf, and Dr. Mooin Ahmed al Aloul of Al-Shifa Hospital, who were killed along with their family members by Israeli bombing.