PH Red Cross ready to send 35 Filipino doctors to Gaza

Philippine Red Cross chair and chief executive officer Richard Gordon. (File Photo: Philippine Red Cross/Facebook)

MANILA – The Philippine Red Cross (PRC) is ready to send 35 Filipino doctors to Gaza, said its chair and chief executive officer Richard Gordon.

Gordon said the sending of doctors is pending as they await the finalization of agreements with the Egyptian Red Crescent.

“I do not agree that they be assigned to areas such as Palestinian hospitals with underground facilities. I want standalone camps for them where they will be identified as part of the Red Cross,” he said in an ANC interview on Thursday.

“Their safety is of utmost importance because they will be there to alleviate the suffering of the children, the women, the elderly and the vulnerable.”

Ten days after Hamas terrorists bombed Israel and took captives in October, Gordon called for an immediate response from the international community and proposed that ships, whether military or commercial such as cruise ships, be sent to Gaza to serve as hospital ships.

“We were able to put up full-fledged emergency hospital tents during Yolanda in partnership with the Red Cross societies of Finland and Canada.

We can do it in Gaza, too. We need to set up standalone camps to ensure that our Filipino doctors will be safe,” he said.

Egyptian Red Crescent chief executive officer Dr. Ramy El Nazer commended Gordon for organizing the deployment of Filipino doctors and nurses to Gaza.

He said the deployment of a field hospital, under the auspices of the Palestinian Red Crescent, is a testament to the Philippine Red Cross’ dedication to alleviating the dire conditions in Gaza.

Earlier, Gordon addressed international humanitarian leaders gathered in Hanoi, Vietnam that they “could not afford to just be spectators and keep quiet.”

“We cannot be outside of the arena of decision making. We have earned the right to be on the table of decision making and humanitarian effort because of hundred and sixty years of helping the suffering humanity,” he said.