Belgian Red Cross-Flanders condemns attack on aid workers

During the night of Saturday, June 28 to Sunday, June 29, several Belgian Red Cross-Flanders aid workers were attacked after an outdoor party in Houthalen-Helchteren. One aid worker suffered bruised ribs and was rushed to the hospital. Two other aid workers were also taken to the hospital for treatment. A total of two volunteers were declared temporarily disabled.

The events took place after the party, where volunteers from Belgian Red Cross-Flanders were manning the first aid station. During their drive back, they passed a fight in which someone was lying wounded on the ground. The team stepped out to offer help, but while attending to the victim was physically attacked themselves.

"Several volunteers suffered stomping and blows. One of our aid workers received a severe blow to the stomach, another to the back and a third to the chest," said Vincent Verbeecke, spokesman for Belgian Red Cross-Flanders. "We even tended one of the aggressors who had suffered a head wound."

Not much later, the female EMT who was struck in her stomach collapsed. She was rushed to the hospital. Two other volunteers were also hospitalized. "Our colleague sustained bruised ribs - that's a particularly severe verdict for someone who volunteers to help others," Verbeecke said. "The other two volunteers are struggling with severe pain. Two have since been declared incapacitated for at least a week."

Unacceptable

Belgian Red Cross-Flanders strongly condemns the violence. "Violence against aid workers is unacceptable," says Verbeecke. "We are talking here about people who volunteer to help others, who then become the final victims of violence. That is unacceptable. We are looking at what steps we can take. In the short term, our focus is on our volunteers and the entire department. This cuts deep."