Gaza Doctor Reveals Long-Term Malnutrition Crisis to CNN Türk
Turkish Doctor Reveals Harsh Conditions in Gaza
Turkish doctor Ömer Faruk Aydoğan recently returned from Gaza, where he witnessed the devastating aftermath of the Israeli bombings that occurred over a year. In a grim account of the situation, Aydoğan described the dire conditions faced by the people of Gaza, including severe food shortages and lack of basic necessities such as heating.
Aydoğan stated, “You do surgery in Gaza, but there is no food service in any way. The patient needs to eat something to heal, but there is no food service. There is no heating service anywhere. If the outside is 5 degrees, the interior of the hospital is 5 degrees.”
After a ceasefire was declared between Hamas and Israel 15 months after the start of the attacks, the extent of the destruction in Gaza became apparent. Aydoğan, who spent a month working as a doctor in Gaza, emphasized the challenges faced in providing medical care to the wounded, many of whom were children.
He recounted, “With the explosion, all patients come to the hospital at the same time. You have to choose between patients. A patient dies while waiting for surgery.”
The doctor also highlighted the lack of essential supplies in hospitals, such as electricity and medication, which resulted in preventable deaths. He explained, “There is no electricity in Gaza, except for hospitals. There is a continuously cut electricity in the hospital. There is no intensive care. You are operating, but patients die in the service because you need to get intensive care.”
Aydoğan painted a grim picture of life for civilians forcibly displaced in Gaza, describing how they were living in tents without basic necessities like blankets and mattresses. Despite the challenging circumstances, he noted that there was still a sense of resilience among the people of Gaza.
The plight of the people in Gaza serves as a stark reminder of the ongoing humanitarian crisis in the region, and the urgent need for international assistance to alleviate the suffering of those affected by conflict.
