Reference :
V-P-IL-E-02904
Date :
19/05/2016
Caption :
East Jerusalem, Al-Aqsa mosque. The ICRC and the Palestine Red Crescent Society organize a first aid training for guards.
Confidentiality level :
public
Publication restrictions :
publication without restrictions
Description :
The training follows an escalation of violence in recent months and the expected rise in temperatures during ramadan. This is the first time an international organization has been granted access to this holy site to carry out such an activity. During the five-day course, 25 male and 20 female guards learnt specific skills and behaviours that first aiders need when caring for people caught in situations of violence or natural disasters, or suffering from heat strokes.
During ramadan, more than 250,000 people are expected to visit the mosque every Friday, so it is important that guards know how to assist people in cases of medical emergency.
In emergencies, 90% of lives are saved by first aiders.
In armed conflicts and other situations of violence, first aiders face the risk of harm from dangers such as gunfire, collapsing buildings, burning cars, unstable rubble and tear gas. When the most natural reflex would be to run the other way, they step forward to help the wounded.
“First aid is crucial for the guards working in Al-Aqsa compound because they are on the front line, working day and night, responding to disasters such as fires, injuries and spates of violence. "Never in history has an international organization been granted access to this holy site to carry out an activity, but the ICRC’s neutrality makes it different and we would like to have more such training courses", explained Azam AlKhatib, general director of the Jordanian Jerusalem Waqf, the religious trust responsible for the administration and Islamic affairs at Al-Aqsa mosque.
Tariq Abu Sbeih is from the old city of Jerusalem and has been working as a guard in Al-Aqsa compound for 18 years. Together with 24 other guards, he takes part in the first aid course in order to be the first to provide essential aid, be it bandaging a wound or offering much-needed comfort, when a crisis or emergency occurs.
One of the guards said: “Hundreds of thousands of worshippers will be coming to pray during ramadan. June will be a hot month and this first aid training course will help us to assist them, especially the elderly. What we have learnt is also very important since we witness many incidents at Al-Aqsa mosque these days.”
Original material :
digital
Resolution :
5182x3456
Orientation :
landscape
Colour/B&W :
colour
