Gaza Medics Describe Harrowing Reality of War and Limited Resources

Medics from the Palestine Red Crescent Society are providing healthcare in a war zone where resources are severely limited. Nurse Mirna Kalab and Dr. Iman Moein Abu Ward, both 28, have been repeatedly displaced with their families during the ongoing conflict in Gaza. The British Red Cross has warned that the aid reaching Gaza is insufficient to address the widespread suffering. Mirna begins each day with a prayer before treating victims of bombings. She describes the injuries as extremely severe, with patients arriving in critical condition. Limited resources and shortages of supplies make it incredibly difficult to provide care.

Mirna, a graduate in general nursing from Gaza’s Islamic University, also treats patients with various illnesses. The war has forced approximately 90% of Gaza's population to flee their homes, with around 2.1 million still displaced. Overcrowded and unhygienic conditions are contributing to the spread of diseases. Mirna has moved multiple times with her family, seeking safety. She currently lives in a tent where accessing water and food is a daily struggle. She reflects on her past life, now disrupted by displacement and the emotional toll of the war. She hopes for peace and the opportunity to return home, but may consider leaving Gaza if conditions remain difficult.

Dr. Iman, the eldest daughter in a large family, works as an emergency doctor at the Red Crescent-affiliated Al-Saraya field hospital. She started working with the Red Crescent in April, finding fulfillment in alleviating people's suffering. She describes a supportive environment among the medical team, offering emotional and psychological support to each other. She deals with critical injuries, grieving families, and the challenges of informing them about their loved ones' deaths. She also handles pediatric and outpatient cases. The majority of injuries are to limbs or brain injuries, often with severe outcomes.

A famine was declared in the Gaza Governorate, with millions facing extreme hunger and hundreds of thousands on the brink of starvation. The British Red Cross warns of the long-lasting effects of malnutrition on children. Only a fraction of Gaza's hospitals remain functional, and many are limited by a lack of resources. Dr. Iman notes that broken machinery causes delays in surgeries and other vital treatments. There is a shortage of essential medicines. Her family chose to remain in northern Gaza, experiencing extreme fear, hunger, and displacement. They have been displaced multiple times, and their house was destroyed. She hopes for an end to the war so that education can resume and people can rebuild their lives. She cherishes memories of her home and longs for those days.