A Surgeon in the Siege of Shatila – Dr Christos Giannou
Dr Chris Giannou, a leading Greek-Canadian battle-surgeon expert, was Director of the Palestine Red Crescent Hospital in the Palestinian refugee camp of Shatila in Beirut during its siege in 1985/8 by Shiite militias. His book “Besieged” gives a detailed account of its apocalyptic horror.
Isolated from the rest of Beirut, Shatila was soon deprived of its regular electricity, water and medical supplies. Crowded into a space the size of four football pitches, 3,500 refugees had to survive not only constant bombardment but diminished rations of food and drink.
He is the only non-Palestinian who has sat as a member of the Palestine National Council. He went on to work with the International Committee of the Red Cross, becoming its Head Surgeon, until 2006.
He received the Star of Palestine from the PLO in 1987 and was inducted a Member of the Order of Canada in 1990.
Chris will give an illustrated talk about his experiences in these spheres.
For more information contact: [email protected] / www.WestSurreyPSC.org.uk