Gaza — January 9, 2009 — On December 27, 2008, Israel launched an air strike campaign on Gaza Strip. In the first days of the campaign, more than 370 people were killed with more than 1,600 people wounded. Since the beginning of the conflict, 770 Palestinians and 14 Israelis have been killed, according to reports from the BBC.

The Palestinian Ministry of Health (MOH) addressed humanitarian agencies with request for assistance by providing pharmaceuticals and other medicines.

IRD will assist the most needed by sending a broad spectrum antibiotic Cefzil. The value of the donation is more than $830,000. Your donation will help us bring emergency relief - pharmaceuticals and other medical commodities - to the victims of this conflict, mostly women and children.

IRD received approval from the Ministry that they will be able to receive the donation. The World Health Organization (WHO) is coordinating donations of pharmaceuticals together with the ministry. The ministry will use their own resources to transport commodities from warehouse in Ramallah to Gaza. In the last couple days they managed to get five truckloads of commodities to Gaza. The coordination in Gaza is done through the Pharmacy Department at the ministry. As the Pharmacy Department receives the commodities, they will start distributing them to the Ministry hospitals as needed.