Gaza City, 14th October 2023 – In a harrowing display of resilience, the doctors of Al Awda Hospital in Tal al-Zaatar, Gaza, continue their life-saving work despite imminent threats from the Israeli military. Dr. Nisreen al-Shorafa, the hospital’s 30-year-old surgeon, leads the emergency room tirelessly, working around the clock to treat survivors of relentless Israeli bombings.
The hospital received ominous warnings from the Israeli military, demanding immediate evacuation to avoid bombing. Despite pleas explaining the impossibility of moving all patients, including those in critical condition, the medical team made a collective decision to stay, defying the evacuation orders. The fear of being targeted on the road has forced them to remain, even as hospital resources and space run critically low.
Al Awda Hospital, meaning ‘The Return,’ not only treats the injured but also provides refuge for those fleeing the destruction. The hospital, along with others in Gaza, faces overwhelming challenges due to the sheer volume of casualties. Patients are now lying in corridors, and the morgues are overflowing, forcing the use of unconventional methods like ice-cream trucks and refrigerated vehicles for body storage.
The hospital’s staff, sleep-deprived and low on food and water, continue to work selflessly, risking their lives to save others. While local communities provide some support, there is a desperate need for international intervention. The Palestinian Ministry of Health has repeatedly called for assistance, but as of now, there has been no significant response.
Dr. al-Shorafa, her voice breaking with exhaustion and grief, expressed the hospital staff’s profound sense of helplessness as they witness the loss of lives daily. Despite their extraordinary efforts, they are faced with an overwhelming human tragedy that demands urgent attention from the global community.
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