A field hospital in eastern Rafah was evacuated on Monday, leaving the remaining field hospitals in the area unable to provide more than one-third of the services previously offered. The evacuation was carried out after the Israel Defense Forces instructed residents to leave the area, according to the hospital's medical director.
The medical director of Abu Yusuf Najjar Hospital, Marwan Al-Homss, expressed that the evacuation to Kareem was not voluntary and that the hospital is now completely out of service. This closure has affected the care of nearly 400 kidney dialysis patients who were receiving treatment at the facility.
Al-Homss also mentioned that following the closure of the hospital, acts of vandalism occurred, resulting in the theft of fuel that powered the generators. Despite the challenges, the hospital staff ensured that all patients were safely evacuated before leaving the premises.
Al-Homss highlighted the fear among the medical crews and patients due to previous instances of mistreatment by Israeli forces. He stated, 'They were afraid for their lives, and afraid of being killed because of previous instances where Israelis abuse the patients and medical crews.'
With the hospital now out of service, the remaining field hospitals are struggling to compensate for the loss, with a significant 30% decrease in the services that Abu Yusuf Najjar Hospital provided to the community.
Moreover, Al-Homss revealed the grim reality of the situation, reporting that over the past 48 hours, more than 56 individuals in the area lost their lives, with a troubling statistic showing that 40% of the casualties were children.
