Urgent Appeal from Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital: Patients and Infants Face Dire Threats Amidst Ongoing Israeli Aggression
Urgent Appeal from Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital: Patients and Infants Face Dire Threats Amidst Ongoing Israeli Aggression
Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital in the central Gaza Strip issues a distressing warning, revealing that patients, including infants, may face transfer to mass graves if Israeli aggression persists. Despite the hospital's routine operations amid the chaos of Israeli bombardment targeting Gaza's hospitals, the power and water crises, exacerbated by Israel's campaign since Hamas's October 7 attack, pose severe challenges.
Khalil al-Dakran, the hospital's spokesperson, highlights the critical situation, emphasizing the vulnerability of incubator babies and dialysis patients dependent on fuel for life-saving machines. Al-Aqsa, the sole facility for kidney patients in the central Gaza Strip governorate, faces a bleak scenario if electricity and water outages persist.
The surge in patients, particularly those with chronic diseases and injuries from the conflict, has strained the hospital's capacity. Dialysis treatment times have been reduced, and the frequency of sessions per week has decreased, causing fear and anxiety among patients.
Displaced individuals like Maryam al-Jayar express their distress, describing the challenges of receiving shortened and less frequent dialysis amid ongoing bombings and shortages of water and electricity. Nesma Sharir, another kidney patient, voices concerns about the dialysis process's effectiveness and the potential for complications due to shortages.
The neonatal intensive care department at Al-Aqsa is also grappling with the impact of the war. Nurse Warda al-Awawda describes the overwhelming influx of newborns, both premature and those injured by bombings. The challenging journeys some infants endure to reach the hospital, often carried by individuals on various modes of transport, further contribute to their health deterioration.
Heartbreaking stories emerge, such as that of infant Hassan Mishmish, rescued from under the rubble after losing his parents. The hospital's nursing staff, facing serious shortages of essential supplies, including basic items like soap, struggles to provide adequate care for these vulnerable infants.
As Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital grapples with these immense challenges, the international community's attention is crucial. The plea from the hospital's spokesperson serves as a stark reminder of the human cost of the ongoing conflict in Gaza, urging swift and decisive action to address the urgent humanitarian needs and prevent further tragedy.
