The 51-day Israeli operation in the Gaza Strip this summer was the most deadly and destructive escalation in recent years. More than 2,000 people were killed in the course of the attacks and over 11,000 people were injured, many of them children. Thousands of these patients were brought into Shifa Hospital, the Gaza Strip’s main hospital. They were treated by skilled teams of Palestinian doctors and nurses who worked around the clock to provide life-saving treatment under dangerous and stressful conditions. Such a large influx of badly injured patients meant that each person could only be seen for a short time – long enough to stabilise them but, in many cases, not long enough to provide lasting treatment.
The scale of the challenge ahead is only just becoming clear. In the months following the attacks, patients have slowly started returning to Shifa Hospital to continue their lengthy recoveries. From the outset, two problems confronted the doctors at Shifa. First, some of the injuries were so extensive that they required highly specialised surgery not available in Gaza. Second, the hospital simply did not have the medical equipment they needed to treat those cases.
Health services have been decimated by the seven-year blockade of the Gaza Strip. Movement and access restrictions imposed by Israel make it difficult for many doctors to take part in specialised training overseas. This has created a gap in the healthcare system that can be fatal during emergencies. The blockade also drained the Ministry of Health’s resources. Prior to the escalation it was estimated that around 50% of all medical equipment in Gaza was non-operational. The Ministry of Health is unable to either repair or replace this equipment because the siege has left it with over 250 million dollars worth of debt. Every patient that cannot be treated in the Gaza Strip due to a lack of equipment or expertise must be referred outside. This is a costly option that has trapped the health service in a cycle of debt. Without additional support, the options for war-wounded patients were slim.
MAP is playing a pivotal role in treating people who were injured during the attacks. In partnership with IDEALS and with the support of DFID, we are sending teams of highly skilled orthopaedic and plastic surgeons to the Gaza Strip every month to deliver essential medical equipment and carry out reconstructive surgery on war-wounded Palestinians. During each visit they see dozens of patients and assist their Palestinian counterparts with the most complex procedures.
Abdullah was on his way to collect his marriage certificate when Israeli forces shelled a nearby building. The debris from the blast knocked him to the ground, severely fracturing his left arm. As the 24-year-old struggled to get up, he stepped on an unexploded shell that tore through the left side of his body. Abdullah’s injuries were potentially fatal. Half of his pelvis was gone and his left leg was barely held onto his body. With such extensive injuries, the doctors at Shifa hospital were in need of specialist assistance.
Drs Sarah Phillips and Graeme Groom, skilled orthopaedic surgeons from London, were part of the first medical team that MAP and IDEALS sent to the Gaza Strip and Abdullah was one of their first cases. Abdullah lost considerable weight after the attack and his body was struggling to sustain itself with such extensive injuries. After assessing his wounds, they were able to advise the doctors on the best course of action to save Abdullah’s life – amputation and extensive reconstructive surgery around his hip. The surgery took a total of four hours and had never been performed in Gaza before but when it was over Abdullah was stable and his outlook was good.
When Dr. Groom returned to the Gaza Strip in November, he was delighted to see the progress that Abdullah had made. His wounds had healed well and he was returning to a safe weight. Abdullah’s father tells me that he’s grateful to the UK doctors for saving his son’s life. However, this is just the start of Abdullah’s recovery. He faces a long period of physical rehabilitation and is battling with the psychological trauma caused by the attack. Speaking to him at Shifa Hospital, he says “I’m very sad that I lost my leg and I feel phantom pain where it used to be”.
The United Nations highlighted psychological trauma as one of the most widespread and lasting consequences of the attacks on Gaza. People who have sustained life-altering injuries like Abdullah and others who have lost their loved ones or homes are struggling to recover. The United Nations’ Gaza Crisis Appeal underlined the devastating impact of the Israeli operation on the mental health of Palestinian children. According to the appeal it is estimated that at least 373,000 children are in need of psychosocial support following the attacks.
29-year-old Mahmoud was at home with his young family when an airstrike hit nearby. One of his sons was killed and another was injured in the attack. Mahmoud himself suffered multiple fractures along his right arm and leg. The tragedy that struck Mahmoud’s family and the injuries he sustained were a common consequence of the airstrikes that rained over Gaza this summer. He received emergency care immediately after the attack but the absence of medical equipment and the need for surgical expertise not present in Gaza meant that Mahmoud went almost two months without lasting treatment for his injuries.
Mahmoud (pictured) was assessed by the team of doctors that MAP/IDEALS brought to the Gaza Strip in October. His injuries would need to be operated on and without the orthopaedic equipment that MAP provided, the surgery would not have been possible. Speaking to Mahmoud a month after his operation, he tells me that the change in his health has been dramatic. “After the attack I was in a lot of pain every day. Now that I’ve had the surgery I feel much better.”
Palestinians across the Gaza Strip are struggling to recover from the appalling consequences of this summer’s Israeli operation. Countless people are still awaiting treatment for their injuries and many will face life-long impairments whilst battling deep psychological trauma. There are no quick fixes but MAP is committed to standing beside the people of Gaza as they attempt to rebuild their lives.
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