In the Eye of the Storm: Gaza’s Struggling Hospital Under Siege During Ramadan

Sabha, who was fasting for Ramadan, witnessed the challenges faced by patients arriving at the emergency room in Gaza. The hospital, designed to house 200 people but currently housing over 10,000, was struggling to cope with the influx of patients requiring amputations. The lack of resources due to Gaza’s siege since October 7 meant that doctors had to work with limited medication and instruments, forcing them to be creative and step out of their comfort zones.

Sabha noted that there were only one bathroom for every 200 to 300 people, which made it difficult for patients to access proper sanitation facilities. This led to a situation where doctors had to create makeshift emergency room settings. Patients arriving at the emergency room had to be seen on the ground due to the lack of beds. Sabha saw up to 20-30 patients a day surviving on four hours of sleep and two protein bars.

Khan explained how using the wrong implants due to limited supplies for treating fractures presented its own set of challenges. The crumbling infrastructure in Gaza from constant bombings led to unstable buildings and a lack of sanitation facilities, breeding rampant mosquitoes. The accumulation of garbage created a pervasive smell throughout the area, making it a challenging environment for doctors and nurses to work in. Despite these challenges, Khan and Sabha continued working tirelessly to provide medical care and support for those in need.