WORCESTER, MA
Gaza: From the Inside Looking Out
Raising Awareness and Funds
Featuring
Dr. Ismail Mehr of IMANA/American Medical Mission to Gaza
Saturday, February 28th, 2009
1 PM
Worcester Islamic Center
248 East Mountain St
Worcester, MA 01606
The American Medical Mission to Gaza was the only group of American doctors to enter Gaza after the recent fighting to provide medical assistance and to witness the humanitarian crisis first-hand. Dr. Mehr led the group of doctors to the Gaza strip in January 2009 and now will be at the Worcester Islamic Center to share his personal experiences.
Event open to Public. Please Forward Widely
Hosted by the Worcester Islamic Center
RSVP to WICevent@gmail.com
Questions? Contact: WICevent@gmail.com
Facebook Event
Wednesday, February 11, 2009
American Doctors Return to US after Gaza Mission
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Lombard IL (February 11, 2009) -- The physicians who returned from the 10 day humanitarian medical mission to the Gaza Strip - have resumed their daily practices. The group of eleven doctors - were the only American and Canadian physicians to travel to Gaza to provide humanitarian aid to the war-torn region.
“Going there really enlightened me and opened my eyes.” said Dr. Ismail Mehr, an anesthesiologist from Hornell New York - who led the group of specialists. “The situation was worse that we had ever imagined.” Along with Mehr, other doctors from American Medical Mission to Gaza treated patients with an assortment of injuries—burns, shrapnel wounds, and amputations.
“I was surprised and shocked to see the extent and degree of civilian casualties,” said Dr. Irfan Galaria a Salt Lake City plastic surgeon who treated several burn patients, some presumably from white phosphorus-related injuries. Galaria operated extensively on a facial injury of a 1-year old girl without the use of local anesthetic – a reoccurring problem in area desperately needing medical supplies.
“Every time I stuck her with the needle she could feel it.”
In a case that received international attention, Texas urologist Saeed Akhtar and Mehr removed a watermelon-sized tumor from the kidney of Abdullah Shawwa – a four year child. The tumor was attributed to untreated chronic disease that many in Gaza Strip are afflicted with because of the embargo posed on the region. Furthermore, Mehr noted “Due to travel restrictions and the embargo, kids like Shawwa may not be able to receive appropriate follow-up care due to lack of medical expertise and equipment.”
Dr. Rick Colwell, an emergency room doctor from Sioux City, Iowa who was part of the mission said, “Something has to be done about this embargo...it’s inhumane.”
“We were the only Americans to go to Gaza and we will probably be the only ones to go as far as a relief team that is strictly defined under the charter of an American charitable organization,” Mehr said. With the announcement that Egypt will reseal the Rafah border crossing with Gaza and Israel continuing its embargo on the region – Mehr and his team might be the last group of American physicians to provide any humanitarian aid to a area inflicted with high number of causalities and fatalities due to Israeli strikes and poor medical resources.
The team of volunteers also included Dr. Imran Qureshi, a radiologist from Naperville, Illionis, Dr. Kanwal Shazia Chaudhry a pediatric and emergency room specialist from New York City, Dr. Labiq Syed, a research fellow at Johns Hopkins, Dr. Labib Syed an interventional radiologist from Baltimore, and Dr. Shariq Sayeed a vascular surgeon from Atlanta. Ahmed Kasem, an attorney with the California firm, Kasem, Ko & Ahmed assisted the team with logistics.
Lombard IL (February 11, 2009) -- The physicians who returned from the 10 day humanitarian medical mission to the Gaza Strip - have resumed their daily practices. The group of eleven doctors - were the only American and Canadian physicians to travel to Gaza to provide humanitarian aid to the war-torn region.
“Going there really enlightened me and opened my eyes.” said Dr. Ismail Mehr, an anesthesiologist from Hornell New York - who led the group of specialists. “The situation was worse that we had ever imagined.” Along with Mehr, other doctors from American Medical Mission to Gaza treated patients with an assortment of injuries—burns, shrapnel wounds, and amputations.
“I was surprised and shocked to see the extent and degree of civilian casualties,” said Dr. Irfan Galaria a Salt Lake City plastic surgeon who treated several burn patients, some presumably from white phosphorus-related injuries. Galaria operated extensively on a facial injury of a 1-year old girl without the use of local anesthetic – a reoccurring problem in area desperately needing medical supplies.
“Every time I stuck her with the needle she could feel it.”
In a case that received international attention, Texas urologist Saeed Akhtar and Mehr removed a watermelon-sized tumor from the kidney of Abdullah Shawwa – a four year child. The tumor was attributed to untreated chronic disease that many in Gaza Strip are afflicted with because of the embargo posed on the region. Furthermore, Mehr noted “Due to travel restrictions and the embargo, kids like Shawwa may not be able to receive appropriate follow-up care due to lack of medical expertise and equipment.”
Dr. Rick Colwell, an emergency room doctor from Sioux City, Iowa who was part of the mission said, “Something has to be done about this embargo...it’s inhumane.”
“We were the only Americans to go to Gaza and we will probably be the only ones to go as far as a relief team that is strictly defined under the charter of an American charitable organization,” Mehr said. With the announcement that Egypt will reseal the Rafah border crossing with Gaza and Israel continuing its embargo on the region – Mehr and his team might be the last group of American physicians to provide any humanitarian aid to a area inflicted with high number of causalities and fatalities due to Israeli strikes and poor medical resources.
The team of volunteers also included Dr. Imran Qureshi, a radiologist from Naperville, Illionis, Dr. Kanwal Shazia Chaudhry a pediatric and emergency room specialist from New York City, Dr. Labiq Syed, a research fellow at Johns Hopkins, Dr. Labib Syed an interventional radiologist from Baltimore, and Dr. Shariq Sayeed a vascular surgeon from Atlanta. Ahmed Kasem, an attorney with the California firm, Kasem, Ko & Ahmed assisted the team with logistics.
Gaza and the Aftermath Part 1
Kevin Doran of WLEA 1480 AM interviews Dr. Ismail Mehr
** Please note the views of the host do not represent those of AMMG
Gaza Fundraiser in Buffalo NY
Organization of Arab Students, Muslim Student Association, and Western New York Peace Center are presenting a Charity Banquet (a fundraising event for Gaza)
February 27th,2009 from 6pm-11pm
*Dinner served at 7pm (Halal Meat)
Salvatore's Italian Gardens Restaurant,
6461 Transit Road Depew, NY 14043
Speaker Laila El-Haddad (Past Al Jazeera Correspondent)
Speaker Dr. Ismail Mehr (IMANA Relief/American Medical Mission to Gaza)
Auctions
**Donations to the Palestinian Children Relief Fund
**Tickets are on sale! You may purchase them from eboard members or
SBI Ticket Office 221 Student Union
$20 Students
$30 non-students
For further information feel free to contact Tamera Akarah (716) 400-3741
February 27th,2009 from 6pm-11pm
*Dinner served at 7pm (Halal Meat)
Salvatore's Italian Gardens Restaurant,
6461 Transit Road Depew, NY 14043
Speaker Laila El-Haddad (Past Al Jazeera Correspondent)
Speaker Dr. Ismail Mehr (IMANA Relief/American Medical Mission to Gaza)
Auctions
**Donations to the Palestinian Children Relief Fund
**Tickets are on sale! You may purchase them from eboard members or
SBI Ticket Office 221 Student Union
$20 Students
$30 non-students
For further information feel free to contact Tamera Akarah (716) 400-3741
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