Philippine Red Cross Chairman and CEO Richard Dick Gordon (center), together with PRC Secretary-General, Dr. Gwen Pang (right) and Disaster Management Services Manager Criselda Longga (2nd from left), met with International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies Vice President Maha Al Barjas (left) and Egyptian Red Crescent CEO Ramy El-Nazer (2nd from right) during the 11th Asia Pacific Regional Conference in Hanoi, Vietnam
Gordon calls for resolute action to protect women, kids in Gaza
PHILIPPINE Red Cross (PRC) Chairman/CEO Richard J. Gordon on Wednesday called on humanitarian leaders to act resolutely in protecting the children, the women, the wounded and the vulnerable in Israel and Gaza.
Speaking at a conference in Vietnam, Chairman Gordon said the humanitarian community cannot be indecisive about its response to the Israel-Hamas war.
“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.
“We are not going to leave the vulnerable alone. That is why we have to act. There is no time for pausing. Children are dying. Women are dying. People are sick not only of injuries from war,” he stressed.
Chairman Gordon made his first appeal for immediate action in the ongoing war on October 17 – 10 days after Hamas attacked Southern Israel on October 7 and claimed 1,400 lives, by proposing that ships be sent to serve as hospital ships to attend to the injured, sick and dying.
He also suggested to get, rent and operate an offshore cruise ship with hospital conversion within where all the vulnerable can live in safety, hygienically and with food provided by the enormous kitchens etc..
In a letter to IFRC Secretary-General Jagan Chapagain on November 4, Chairman Gordon proposed that the Movement work toward the establishment of a 5,000-bed field hospital that will be declared as an international humanitarian medical corridor at the border of Egypt and Gaza.
In his reply on Nov. 19, Mr. Chapangain welcomed Chairman Gordon’s proposal for field hospitals and on Nov. 21, Egyptian Red Crescent Chief Executive Officer, Dr. Ramy El-Nazer, wrote: “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.”
Chairman Gordon earlier hailed the approval by the Israel cabinet on the partial release of hostages and the five-day pause in hostilities in Gaza. “Hopefully, all hostages will be released and more lives will be saved throughout Gaza,” he said.
