I visited Al-Shifa Hospital in Gaza, the largest medical facility in the area. The emergency room was chaos, and filled with cries of wounded people and the worried whispers of families. Stretchers lined the hallways, and many patients were children, their small bodies bearing the scars of the conflict.
Dr. Youssef, a surgeon who had been working for 48 hours straight, guided me through the overcrowded wards. "We have more patients than beds," he said in a voice full of exhaustion. In one corner, a young boy named Ali, who's around seven years old, lay unconscious with shrapnel wounds covering his legs. His mother sat beside him, holding his hand and whispering prayers.
Dr. Youssef paused by Ali's bed. "We do our best, but it's never enough," he said, his eyes heavy with sadness. He explained that Ali needed a complex surgery, but due to the shortage of medical supplies and the constant influx of new patients, they could only provide basic care for now. Dr. Youssef said "We need more of everything like medicines, equipment, and doctors," he added.
In another room, I met a 10-year-old girl named Fatima, who had lost her leg in an explosion. Despite the trauma, she managed a brave smile when I spoke to her. Her father, standing nearby, told me about their home being destroyed. "We have nowhere to go," he said, his voice breaking. "But at least she's alive."
The doctors and nurses at Al-Shifa worked tirelessly, their faces etched with fatigue. Dr. Youssef had been at the hospital for over two days without rest. "We can't leave these people," he said. "They need us, and we need the world to see their suffering."
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/news/html/20240404/k10014410231000.html
Sadly, the Al-Shifa Hospital that's described in this account is now in ruins, just like almost all the medical facilities in Gaza.
ReplyDeleteAlthough it is a realistic and convincing perspective on the Gaza crisis, please add a brief note to your preface explaining that you have written fictionalized, first-person accounts from individuals connected with the war in Gaza to help readers empathize with the parties involved and understand the issues better. Otherwise, they might think that you (the blogger) are actually a journalist who visited Gaza.
This was such a heart wrenching story. Living in Japan, we only hear news about murders or robberies every now and then. After reading this, I realize once again how peaceful Japan is and how lucky I am to be able to go about my day without worrying about my life being threatened by war. All I can hope for is that the war ends so that the people suffering from the aftermath can heal as quickly as possible.
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