“Stop the Bleeding”: Doctors Without Borders trains women in first aid
Doctors Without Borders (MSF) is conducting vital training in the Nur Shams refugee camp in the occupied West Bank, teaching women essential first aid skills to help their families and neighbors during Israeli military incursions.
The “Stop the Bleeding” sessions cover wound care and tourniquet application, crucial for situations where medical care is delayed or inaccessible.
Doctors Without Borders’ initiative addresses a critical need, as Israeli forces often block Palestinians from reaching healthcare facilities, particularly during military operations.
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“Women learned how to care for wounds, apply tourniquets, and provide basic first aid to their family members and neighbours until they can reach medical care during incursions by Israeli forces,” MSF said.
The occupied West Bank faces significant movement restrictions, with 793 obstacles, including checkpoints, road gates, and earthmounds, hindering Palestinian access to basic services. This has severe consequences for residents, especially those requiring medical attention.
The World Health Organization reports that between October 2023 and August 2024, 44% of medical care applications in East Jerusalem and Israeli health facilities were denied or remain pending.
In Tulkarm governorate, where the training takes place, residents face denied access to agricultural land behind the Barrier, resulting in significant income losses and disrupted food supply. The Deir al Ghusoun cluster, comprising Deir al Ghusoun, Attil, and Zeita towns, has lost access to 100 dunums of land, affecting local markets and productivity.
MSF’s efforts aim to empower women in these challenging circumstances, providing them with life-saving skills to bridge the gap until medical care becomes available. By doing so, they help mitigate the impact of movement restrictions and promote resilience among Palestinian communities.
So far, In Lebanon, at least 2,968 people have been killed and 13,319 wounded in Israeli attacks since the war on Gaza began, the Lebanese Health Ministry says.
