Bil’in Popular Committee
11 July 2009
Today, July 11th, Physicians For Human Rights Israel came to visit the Palestinian village of Bil’in. Volunteer doctors, nurses, paramedics, optometrists, pharmacists, psychologists and translators came to Bil’in with the mobile clinic to offer their support to the community.
At their arrival, PHR Israel was warmly welcomed by the head of the village consul and invited to see where the wall is being construct in the village and also witness the presence of the Israeli soldiers. The popular committee against the wall explained the situation of Bil’in to the volunteers present on the site and asked the organization to help them understand what could be the possible long-term effects of the chemical water bombs used against them during the weekly non-violent manifestations. The smell of the chemical bombs used the day before by the Israeli army was still present during the visit.
After witnessing the site in question, the village consul welcomed PHR to three different sites in the village where doctors of different specialties (surgeons, orthopedics, pediatrics, and internal medicine) saw patients (around 200) with different needs. Also , PHR offered a special clinic providing free view exams and glasses for all the people of Bil’in requiring glasses.
After seeing as much patients as possible, the volunteers from PHR were offered a delicious meal prepared by the people of the village. Just before leaving Bil’in, all the volunteers of PHR were offered a present by the community consul.