Melanie Ward, the CEO for the relief group Medical Aid for Palestinians (MAP), recently visited Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital in Deir al-Balah, Gaza, where she witnessed the dire situation faced by Palestinians amidst Israel's bombardment.
Ward recounted the heart-wrenching plea of a mother at the hospital, desperate for the world to know the suffering of her child and others in Gaza. She highlighted the challenges of conveying to these families that the issue lies not in lack of awareness but in the absence of global action to halt the violence.
During her visit, Ward observed scores of displaced patients and their families seeking refuge at the hospital. She described scenes of injured children in agony and medical staff struggling to provide care amid dwindling supplies due to Israel's aid restrictions.
One particularly distressing sight Ward recalled was a patient with an open wound infested with flies, illustrating the dire conditions faced by those in need of medical attention.
Moreover, she noted the scarcity of water in the wards, forcing medical personnel to reuse equipment meant for orthopedic surgeries, even from deceased patients, due to the lack of resources.
Ward also shed light on the emotional toll on local staff, many of whom have lost loved ones to the bombardment and are themselves displaced or living in partially destroyed homes. In the northern regions, residents are struggling to secure basic necessities like food amidst the ongoing crisis.
Summing up the situation, Ward emphasized the pervasive trauma and fear gripping the Palestinian population, with colleagues and families alike grappling with uncertainty about the future and the long-lasting impact of the conflict on their children.
