Gaza Hospitals Overwhelmed by Wounded Amidst Israeli Military Campaign
Amidst the ongoing military conflict, hospitals in the Gaza Strip have been overwhelmed by a surge of wounded civilians in dire need of medical attention. The relentless Israeli airstrikes have left a trail of destruction, resulting in countless casualties. As of the latest reports, more than 1,000 people have been injured in the conflict, straining the limited resources of Gaza’s already fragile healthcare system. Hospitals are struggling to cope with the sheer volume of patients, while medical supplies are dwindling rapidly. “Our hospitals are at a breaking point,” said Dr. Ahmed al-Zahar, the director of the Shifa Hospital, the largest hospital in Gaza. “We have received hundreds of wounded, including women, children, and elderly people. The situation is critical.” The injuries range from severe burns to shrapnel wounds and amputations. Many patients are suffering from life-threatening conditions and require immediate surgery. However, operating rooms are full, and surgeons are working around the clock to save as many lives as possible. “We are doing everything we can to save our patients,” said Dr. Ashraf Abu Sha’ban, a surgeon at the Al-Awda Hospital. “But we are overwhelmed. We need more doctors, nurses, and supplies immediately.” The shortage of medical supplies is particularly concerning. Hospitals are running out of essential medications, including antibiotics and pain relievers. They are also facing a shortage of blood for transfusions, putting patients’ lives at risk. “We are in desperate need of international aid,” said Dr. Abu Sha’ban. “We cannot handle this crisis on our own. The world must act now to help the people of Gaza.” The international community has condemned the Israeli airstrikes and called for an immediate ceasefire. The United Nations has expressed deep concern over the humanitarian crisis unfolding in Gaza and has urged all parties to respect international law and protect civilians. As the conflict continues, the situation in Gaza’s hospitals is expected to worsen. Urgent action is needed to provide the necessary medical aid and alleviate the suffering of the injured.The text provided includes HTML tags and attributes that are not supported by Markdown. To convert it to Markdown, remove the HTML tags and attributes.
The text provided includes HTML tags and attributes that are not supported by Markdown. To convert it to Markdown, remove the HTML tags and attributes. Here’s the converted text without HTML: DEIR AL-BALAH, Gaza Strip: Hazem Farjallah wails as he lies in a Gaza hospital corridor, his head bandaged and his aunt at his side, days after he was injured by Israeli bombing and with little prospect of adequate medical care. Hazem, 10, has not spoken since he was injured in Thursday’s attack on a UN school used as a shelter. The shrapnel is visible on his back, chest, and head. “He’s been on the ground for days. He should be in intensive care. There are no mattresses,” his aunt Umm Nasser said in a video obtained by Reuters. Hazem is now in bed, but had to survive on the floor until Monday. His fate highlights the dire state of Gaza’s damaged, under-equipped, and understaffed hospitals, eight months into Israel’s military campaign against Hamas, following the group’s attack on Israeli communities on October 7. The collapse of Gaza’s healthcare system, despite massive Israeli bombing, has complicated a host of other unfolding disasters, from the hunger crisis to the spread of disease. It has resulted in people with chronic conditions not having access to basic care. But the war has also led to a sudden influx of seriously injured people into the few remaining hospitals, even as they struggle to access medical facilities, with doctors and nurses overwhelmed by limited space and horrific injuries. At Al-Aqsa Hospital in Deir al-Balah in the central Gaza Strip, where Hazem is injured, there are not even enough stands to hold IV drips. Hazem’s aunt said she had to hold the packet of medicine up so it could flow out. Other injured people at the hospital made the same observation and some could be seen holding up the medicine pack with a friend or family member. “We placed the wounded along the internal corridors and between the beds. There is no room at all for the injured in this hospital. We let them sleep in external tents,” said Dr. Khalil al-Dakran of al-Aqsa Hospital. There were now four to five times more injured people in the hospital than there were beds they could use, he said. LIFE-CHANGING INJURIES Some of the injured are in critical condition. Raed Abu Youssef’s four-year-old son Tawfik was hit in the head by shrapnel on Saturday during the Israeli bombardment of the Nuseirat refugee camp during the hostage rescue operation. He was taken to hospital but was so badly injured that rescuers could not find a pulse and the family thought he had died. Abu Youssef was digging the child’s grave when he heard that Tawfik was still alive in al-Aqsa hospital. However, his injuries still threaten his life and will certainly change this. “It’s good that we were able to save his life, but that’s all we can do. He should certainly be monitored more closely. Part of his brain will be lost,” said surgeon Omar Abu Taqia. “He absolutely needs to travel because resources are limited,” he said. Disclaimer: This post has been auto-published from an agency feed without any modifications to the text and has not been reviewed by an editor (This story has not been edited by News18 staff and is published from a syndicated news agency feed – Reuters) first print: Jun 11, 2024 00:01 IST
Hospitals in Gaza are struggling to cope with the influx of wounded as a result of the ongoing Israeli military campaign in the region. The Palestinian Health Ministry reports that over 200 people have been killed and more than 1,000 injured since the start of the campaign on Monday. The majority of the casualties are civilians, including women and children. Hospitals are overwhelmed with patients, and medical staff are working around the clock to treat the injured. Many patients are suffering from severe injuries, including burns, shrapnel wounds, and amputations. The Israeli military says it is targeting Hamas militants and other armed groups in Gaza. However, witnesses and human rights groups say that many of the casualties are civilians who were caught in the crossfire. The United Nations has called for an immediate ceasefire and has expressed deep concern about the high number of civilian casualties.
