Nearly 60k Sign Petition to Send Royal Navy Hospital Ship to Gaza
TEHRAN (Tasnim) - Tens of thousands of people have signed a petition demanding the British government send hospital ship RFA Argus to Gaza to help treat the escalating number of causalities. Downing Street has so far committed a small team of NHS medics.
Currently moored in Falmouth, Royal Fleet Auxiliary (RFA) Argus is a 100-bed nautical hospital, which has a “four-bay operating theater with a 10-bed Critical Care Unit, a 20-bed High Dependency Unit and a CT Scanner,” according to the Ministry of Defence website.
Campaigners are pushing the UK government to increase its humanitarian aid to the region as the death toll in Gaza broaches 2,000. Their goal is 75,000 signatures, RT reported.
Israel launched operation Protective Edge on July 8. While the international community works toward a ceasefire, protesters have marched worldwide against the Israeli military operation.
A team of NHS medics will soon be deployed to Gaza to help treat the wounded. Downing Street announced it is sending doctors, paramedics, surgeons and anesthetists, who will initially be stationed with Medical Aid for Palestinians at Al Mokassed hospital in East Jerusalem until they are able to enter Gaza itself.
Petitioners, however, argue the prime minister’s commitment doesn’t go far enough, as they continue to call for the ship’s deployment.
“A team of 15 medical staff will barely scratch the surface,” campaign organizer Veronica Vickery said. “Around 10,000 people have been injured in the conflict and much of the medical and other vital infrastructure necessary for treating casualties has been destroyed.
“News reports during the conflict have told of UK volunteer doctors being held up at the border for a fortnight before being allowed in to do their jobs in Gaza,” Vickery added.