Palestinian Red Crescent
 |
|
| Formation | 1968 |
|---|---|
| Type | Non-profit |
| Headquarters |
al-Bireh 
|
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Region served
|
Palestinian territories |
| Website | [2] |
The Palestine Red Crescent Society was founded in 1968, by Fathi Arafat, Yasser Arafat's brother. It is a humanitarian organization that is part of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement. It provides hospitals, emergency medicine and ambulance services, and primary health care centers in the West Bank and Gaza Strip. Its headquarters is based in Ramallah, near Jerusalem. It is an observer member of the International Falcon Movement - Socialist Education International
The PRCS was officially recognized by the ICRC and IFRC in June 2006, in a move that also recognized the Israeli Magen David Adom and the politically neutral Red Crystal symbol.
The PRCS provides the majority of ambulance services in the territories, such as providing emergency medical and relief services to Palestinians as mandated in 1996 by then PLO leader Yasser Arafat. Ambulance services are provided by 41 stations and substations, 22 mobile field posts, 122 ambulances, 346 Emergency Medical Technicians (EMTs) and over 500 volunteers.
1996 also saw the foundation of the Emergency Medical Institute, which trains staff and EMTs in accordance with international standards. Furthermore, the PRCS has been instrumental in the establishment of the national emergency number (101).
Conflict between Israelis and Palestinians has created some special issues for service delivery.
According to Israeli sources, there have been numerous incidents in which Palestinian ambulances have been found transporting bombs, missiles, or terrorists disguised as patients. As such, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) has a policy of stopping to inspect all Palestinian ambulances at roadblocks, regardless of the seriousness of the patient's condition.
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Wikipedia