Webinar: Doctors give eyewitness reports on Gaza

Chris Rose with Dr Ghassan Abu Sittah and Dr Swee Ang speaking in the webinar.

In a wide-ranging conversation last night, plastic surgeon Dr Ghassan Abu Sittah and orthopaedic surgeon Dr Swee Ang spoke with Chris Rose from the Amos Trust in a webinar, about the health care available in Gaza today, the enormous challenges ahead, the lack of basic medical supplies and Israel's targeting of hospitals, ambulances and health facilities.

Dr Ghassan Abu Sittah was operating at Amos' partner Al Ahli Hospital when it was hit on 17th October with the loss of nearly 500 lives. He was also attending Shifa Hospital in Gaza City before being forced to leave.

Dr Swee Ang is a long-time friend of the Amos Trust. She founded Medical Aid for Palestinians, and has a long-standing and in-depth knowledge of health provision in Gaza.

Watch their conversation here: https://vimeo.com/903637900

In a note today, Amos Trust said after the webinar they had received an update from the Director of Al Ahli Hospital: "The situation in northern Gaza remained dire, with ongoing bombardment resulting in a sharp increase in the number of dead and injured. Since 7 Oct. 23 there is a strict siege in place on Gaza City, making it impossible to get supplies of food, fuel, medical equipment, or water in. Famine risk and acute food insecurity are anticipated to materialize soon.

Regarding Ahli, owing to the scarcity of surgeons as most of them obliged to move south, approximately 20 surgical procedures, primarily orthopedic, plastic, and general surgeries, are performed daily in one operating room. About ninety-nine injured inpatients are being cared for by Ahli which is double of Ahli bed capacity.

The hospital is in dire need of fuel, as what is on hand can only last seven to ten days. pharmaceuticals like antibiotics. medications used for anaesthesia, casts, bone screws &, plates, and dressing gauze. Food is scarce in Gaza, and the hospital provides staff and patients with a single meal consisting of rice and dates. Human resources are also required."

Our thanks to Dr Ghassan and Dr Swee for joining us last night. You can follow Dr Ghassan on Instagram @dr.ghassan.as. To read more of Dr Swee's experiences you can purchase her book, From Beirut to Jerusalem.

Next week's Amos Trust webinar on Tuesday 23rd January at 6pm GMT, will be: 'In Conversation With Mahmoud Muna, the Bookseller of Jerusalem, and Phoebe Rison', talking about life in Jerusalem today, the impact of the war on Gaza on Jerusalem life and how they see events unfolding over the coming weeks and months. See: www.amostrust.org/diary/webinar-mahmoud-juma-the-bookseller-of-jerusalem/