Tel Aviv Tribune Net correspondents
Gaza- The director of Kamal Adwan Hospital, Dr. Hossam Abu Safiya, revealed the catastrophic situation facing the hospital and the health system in general in the northern Gaza Strip, in light of the war of extermination practiced by Israel.
Abu Safiya spoke to Tel Aviv Tribune Net about the severe siege imposed on the hospital and the northern Gaza Strip, which prevents the entry of medicines, fuel, and basic medical supplies.
He also highlighted the deliberate targeting of ambulances, the severe shortage of medical personnel by up to 60%, and the hospital suffering from enormous pressure, in light of the influx of large numbers of wounded daily, at a time when it lacks the necessary surgical tools and medical specialties.
Below is the text of the dialogue:
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Can you convey to us a picture of the conditions inside Kamal Adwan Hospital, as the current Israeli attack on the northern Gaza Strip continues?
The situation is disastrous and very difficult. It is one of the most difficult days of the war. Even the previous attacks at the beginning were not as difficult as what is happening now. There is a siege imposed on the north in general, and on the health system and hospitals in particular. There is an Israeli decision to put the system out of service and not allow the entry of fuel, medicines, delegations, and medical supplies.
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What are the most prominent Israeli violations against the health system in northern Gaza?
It is enough to threaten the health system with forced out of service, and not to allow everything required to revive it, such as bringing in medicine, fuel, and other supplies, bringing in specialists for some of our missing medical specialties, and continuing to target ambulances transporting the wounded.
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Do you have fuel for electricity generators and ambulances? How many days are enough for you?
A few days ago, they introduced a limited amount of fuel, which is known and studied, and the other party (the occupation authorities) knows when it will run out.
The remaining amount is barely enough for us for the next 5 days, and then we will face major problems and challenges.
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Were your crews targeted during this aggression?
Two ambulances were directly attacked, the last of which was two days ago, and Tel Aviv Tribune reported the attack directly. The front of the car was destroyed, and fragments and glass entered its front, causing it to malfunction and be destroyed, knowing that we do not have spare parts to repair it, and this hinders the work of ambulances to safely transport the injured. .
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How many martyrs and wounded arrived at the hospital?
Only 250 martyrs arrived at Kamal Adwan Hospital (out of about 400 martyrs announced by the Gaza government) and about 600 wounded.
There are martyrs and wounded who were not reached by ambulances in light of the lack of coordination with the occupation authorities and the absence of a role for the Red Cross in this matter, and therefore there is difficulty in reaching the place, and they will be recovered after the end of the aggression and the withdrawal of the occupation forces.
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How many casualties do you receive daily?
This depends on the type of targeting. For example, when homes are targeted, the numbers of wounded are very large, including children and women. But on average, we receive between 50 and 70 infections per day.
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Do you have the capacity to accommodate this number of wounded?
No, of course. We are originally a small hospital dedicated to serving children, women and maternity. But the need required that we open its doors and receive all the very large numbers of infected people, which exceed its capacity.
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How many wounded inmates do you have today?
We have 75 people injured in this aggression, inmates in the children’s, women’s and adult wards.
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When you receive large numbers of serious infections at the same time, how do you deal with them?
We are forced to make a comparison between the wounded, and provide treatment to those who have a greater chance of survival, and this is something that happens in all hospitals in the Gaza Strip. We have implemented this system many times, because I cannot transfer the wounded who I cannot provide treatment to other hospitals. In the north, in addition to Kamal Adwan Hospital, there are two other hospitals, the Indonesian and the return, and they are suffering just like us.
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In light of this difficult situation, do you have to ask the wounded to leave before completing their treatment to make room for other wounded?
We try, but unfortunately the nature of many injuries is serious, and requires days or even weeks for treatment, and this causes overcrowding in the departments.
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Do you suffer from a shortage of medicines and medical supplies?
Yes, we have a major shortage of medicines, consumables, medical supplies and tools. We have a shortage of operating room and intensive care medications.
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How much is the shortage of medical personnel?
We have a major shortage of medical personnel, at least 60%, so we are in a major crisis.
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What specialties do you have missing?
We lack surgical specialties such as neurosurgery, burns, plastic surgery, general surgery, and vascular surgery, and we need internal medicine and orthopedic specialists. Therefore, we appeal for the entry of medical delegations visiting the Gaza Strip to cover our deficit, which the occupation prevents.
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How many operating rooms do you have and are they sufficient?
We only have 3 operating rooms, which are not enough, and as I mentioned previously, we have a shortage of the medicines needed for these rooms.
Recently, we succeeded in transferring some cases to Gaza City hospitals, but they are full of sick and wounded and suffering like us.
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Do international organizations intervene to coordinate with the occupation authorities in order to support the health system in the northern Gaza Strip?
For us, we consider the Red Cross out of service. It has not intervened, and it will not, unfortunately. We have previously asked and appealed to them, but unfortunately… but the World Health Organization intervened and dealt with us and responded to some of our calls and some of our needs.