In the heart of Gaza City, Dr. Nada Abu Al-Rub and her colleague Dr. Saya Aziz are providing critical care to countless patients amidst the ongoing humanitarian crisis. As volunteers with PANZMA, both physicians face harrowing situations at Al-Shifa Hospital. While they’re seeing dozens of patients every day, they’re doing so in the midst of a catastrophic shortfall of resources. The crisis is now at a tipping point. Doctors are currently living and sleeping inside the hospital, working round the clock to save as many lives as possible.
The medical personnel toil in a hyper-stressful environment, often with less than no opportunity to recharge. “They all live in the hospital and work 24-seven, with only one sporadic hour rest here and there,” she said. This relentless commitment comes as the clinic struggles to cope with a staggering number of casualties, with Dr. Abu Al-Rub noting that “we have now more than 1,500 bodies under the rubble at the hospital ground.”
The Dire Conditions at Al-Shifa Hospital
The conflict grows more dangerous by the day. The surgical theatre at Al-Shifa has turned into an active war zone for medical providers and patients alike. During a recent reporting trip to the camp, Dr. Aziz painted a very alarming picture of the facilities. He showed us how each piece of equipment is covered in blood and hardly functions. “Would you ever dream of taking your patient into a theatre like this?” she asked, highlighting the dire need for proper surgical conditions.
“The only thing that can describe the situation we are living in is a nightmare,” Dr. Abu Al-Rub said as she reminisced of the never-ending flow of patients. “I don’t think anyone could believe how inhuman and horrific the scenes are from those kinds of weapons, and the type of injuries that we have to deal with,” she stated. The doctors’ emotional toll is evident, as they care for those caught in this cycle of trauma and hopelessness.
Through all of this upheaval, Dr. Aziz has lost count of how many people she has served. The extensive backlog and the drain of those thousands of cases has become an all-consuming reality for her and her colleagues. “How is this person going to survive? Who’s gonna look after them?” she pondered, reflecting on the broader implications of the violence engulfing their community.
The Heart-Wrenching Stories of Patients
The doctors’ experiences are not without their share of heart-wrenching stories of suffering. For Dr. Abu Al-Rub, one of the most heart-wrenching moments came when treating Alaa. Through it all, she tenderly wiped his blood-spattered face as he struggled for existence. “Before I put him off to sleep and to resuscitate him, he asked were his children still alive,” shared Dr. Aziz. Patients and families often spend years in fear for their loved ones. It’s beyond heartbreaking that an additional layer of torment has been piled onto this horrifyingly sad chapter.
That’s why these last two years have been nothing short of devastating on children. Dr. Abu Al-Rub lamented that “kids have to see their parents shred into pieces,” which underscores the emotional scars that will linger long after the violence subsides. Dr. Aziz reflected on the plight of children in Gaza, stating: “These children have lost everything … children have lost every family member.”
Both doctors are undeterred in their mission, even as the challenges loom large. Dr. Abu Al-Rub emphasized their relentless focus on survival, stating, “You have to pick the cases that have a chance for survival, and we act on them first.” This challenging triage process reflects all too clearly on their commitment and devotion to ensuring life even when faced with the most severe conditions.
A Call for Change
These two physicians are doing everything they can to become game changers. They understand that far more is required to end the humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza. Dr. Aziz voiced a strong call for change, asserting that “more needed to be done to make a difference on the ground, and bring the war to an end.” The doctors’ role as healers is eclipsed by their need to become advocates for peace in a war-torn society.
Dr. Abu Al-Rub’s final remarks encapsulate the urgency of their situation: “We’re doing this video because we know that we might die at any time, unfortunately.” Although she is getting paid, Mothe and Wiggins understand the fragile life they’re living. They aim to raise awareness of the brutal conditions that physicians and non-combatants in Gaza face.
