Sat May 03 15:16:13 UTC 2025: **Gaza Doctors Detail Heartbreaking Realities of Providing Care Amid Ongoing Conflict**
Khan Younis, Gaza – A team of four volunteer doctors from Qatar, part of the Rahma Worldwide organization, have concluded a medical mission at Nasser Medical Complex in Gaza, leaving behind a stark picture of the ongoing humanitarian crisis. Their experiences, shared with Al Jazeera, paint a harrowing portrait of a healthcare system overwhelmed by the nearly 19-month-long conflict.
The doctors, including thoracic surgeon Ehab Massad, orthopedic surgeon Anas Hijjawi, ophthalmic surgeon Diyaa Rachdan, and urology consultant Mohammad Almanaseer, described facing a relentless tide of injuries and illnesses far exceeding available resources. Severe shortages of medical supplies, exacerbated by restrictions on their import into Gaza, forced them to reuse disposable equipment and improvise treatments. Dr. Hijjawi recounted instances where he had to use incorrectly sized metal plates to repair broken limbs, acknowledging the risk involved.
Emotional accounts emerged from each doctor. Dr. Massad broke down recounting the trauma of witnessing children bewildered and orphaned by bombings. Dr. Rachdan, on the last day of the mission, expressed hope for longer future deployments. Dr. Almanaseer shared the particularly devastating story of a two-year-old boy who died after suffering injuries in an Israeli bombing – a child the same age and name as his own son.
The doctors consistently highlighted the resilience of the Gazan people, particularly the children. Despite the constant threat of violence and immense suffering, they observed children continuing to play, seemingly oblivious to the destruction surrounding them. This contrasted sharply with the exhaustion and trauma faced by the local medical teams, who have worked nearly non-stop for a year and a half.
The doctors’ accounts underscore the urgent need for increased humanitarian aid and access to medical supplies in Gaza, highlighting the critical challenges faced by medical professionals in providing adequate care under such dire circumstances. The stories of resilience and suffering leave a lasting impression, encapsulating the heartbreaking realities of life in Gaza.
First Piper 