Hospitals in Gaza and Israel Struggle to Provide Medical Care Amidst Ongoing Conflict
Crisis in Medical Care
Hospitals in Gaza and Israel are facing a severe crisis in delivering medical care to patients due to the ongoing rocket attacks from Hamas and the Israeli military. This has led to a soaring death toll among civilians caught in the crossfire.
According to the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC), four Palestinian paramedics were killed on Wednesday in Gaza by Israeli strikes, adding to the approximately 1,000 deaths in the territory.
In neighbouring Israeli towns, doctors have reported a surge in patients after Hamas stormed through the border fence and launched attacks that resulted in the deaths of over 1,000 Israelis in their homes, on the streets, and at an outdoor music festival.
Overwhelming Numbers of Injured
Dr. Ron Nobel, director of emergency and disaster management at Barzilai Medical Center in Ashkelon, Israel, explained the unprecedented situation his hospital is facing, saying, “Since Saturday morning, we have received an incredible number of injured people. We are used to treating injured patients, but not in these numbers.”
The hospital, located 20 kilometers from Gaza, was also hit with rockets during Saturday’s attack, but fortunately, no one was injured. The medical staff has been working tirelessly to treat the influx of patients, something Dr. Nobel has never experienced in his career.
Dr. Nobel described the range of injuries among children, women, and men, including bullet wounds, injuries from rocket explosions, and burns caused by Hamas militants setting fire to homes.
A Desperate Situation in Gaza
Meanwhile, across the border in Gaza, hospitals are struggling to provide care for thousands of injured civilians. The spokesperson for Gaza’s Ministry of Health has stated that health workers are facing critical shortages of basic medical supplies and fuel.
James Denslow, head of the conflict and humanitarian policy and advocacy team at Save the Children U.K., highlighted the dire situation for children living on both sides of the border. He called for an urgent humanitarian pause to allow emergency aid to be delivered and for children to find safety.
However, Israel has halted the entry of essential supplies into Gaza. The territory’s only power plant has run out of fuel, exacerbating the already strained healthcare system.
A Call for International Support
The World Health Organization has announced that supplies for Gaza’s hospitals have already run out, leading to a decline in quality of care and increased mortality rates. Medecins Sans Frontieres Canada (MSF) has sent surgical teams to Gaza and set up a clinic to provide assistance.
Dr. Tarek Loubani, an Ontario-based doctor who has previously worked in Gaza, described the current situation as a desperate medical crisis. He emphasized the indiscriminate nature of the attacks, with casualties appearing to be random within Gaza.
The MSF statement appealed for an end to the collective punishment of the population in Gaza and the restoration of essential supplies, as cutting off water, electricity, and fuel is unacceptable and deprives people of their basic needs.
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