MDA crews in danger as attacks continue

News update direct from MDA Israel

August 20, 2011 – summary of events
Dozens of rockets and mortar shells fired from Gaza during Shabbat from early morning and throughout the day towards the Western Negev & Lachish targeting cities and Israeli communities.

05:47 MDA Lachish Region is informed about a rocket hitting a residential neighborhoods in Ashdod.
MDA ambulances and MICU’s (Mobile Intensive Care Unit) responded to the scene, arriving within minutes.

The teams began scanning the area witnessing damage to several buildings.
Seven casualties: three severely injured, two in moderate condition and 2 lightly injured evacuated by MDA MICU’s and ambulances to the Barzilay hospital in Ashkelon and to the Kaplan hospital in Rechovot.
Three of the casualties are Palestinian workers that slept in the apartment.
Several civilians are suffering from stress symptoms and are receiving medical attention at the scene.

20:07 MDA Negev Region was informed about a rocket that exploded in Ofakim. Three are suffering from Shrapnel injuries: an adult & two children – a four month old and a nine year old are lightly injured, evacuated to the Soroka Medical Centre in Beer Sheva.
In additional locations 5 civilians are lightly injured from shrapnel, treated and evacuated by MDA Teams to medical attention in the hospitals in their communities.

20:48 MDA Negev Region was informed about rockets that exploded in Beer Sheva. 2 MICU’s & 4 Ambulances headed by MDA Southern Region Director Yehuda Shoshan reach the scene: a house and car on fire and additional damage to some buildings. The teams have scanned the area and provided advanced medical treatment to 7 casualties: 1 in critical condition, 4 severely injured, 2 moderately injured, evacuated to the Soroka Medical Centre in Beer Sheva, in addition to several people suffering from stress symptoms.

MDA teams are acting under danger using personal protective gear while explosions are in their proximity.

Negev & Lachish MDA Regions are on high alert since the events on Thursday near Eilat. All other MDA Regions have elevated their level of alert.