Palestinians fighting a fire after an Israeli attack on a displacement camp in Rafah, in southern Gaza, on May 27, 2024. (Credit: Mohammad Salem/Reuters)
Ezzedine Chahine, an anesthesiologist at al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital in Gaza, told L'Orient-Le Jour about the Israeli strikes on al-Barkasat camp for internally displaced people in Rafah, in southern Gaza on Sunday.
Initial reports indicate that the recently established encampment was struck seven to eight times. A massive fire broke out, raging for 45 minutes before Civil Defense was able to extinguish it. Around 45 people were killed and several other remain in critical condition.
Here's his account:
"I'm an anesthetist at al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital. We are the only hospital still functioning in central Gaza. We don't usually receive wounded from Rafah. But because of the number of wounded and the severity of the injuries, the field hospitals — which are the only ones operating in Rafah — were unable to treat these cases. At the same time, we also received wounded from Nousseirate, where there had been shelling all night.
"Most of the wounded coming from Rafah were in a severe condition, with burns. Some had more than 50 percent of their bodies burned. It seems that special rockets were used to inflict these burns. We know which weapons were used, based on the wounds. Many of the wounded passed through the operating theater. For most of them, if they didn't die on the spot, they'll die in the next few days.
"Usually, when this type of severe burn occurs, patients are sent to specialized centers. There used to be one at al-Shifa Hospital, the only one, but it's no longer operational. We tried to find space in the intensive care unit, but there was no more room.
"It's difficult to explain and make others understand what's happening to us... The health system has almost collapsed. The medical staff has been working non-stop for eight months and for endless hours. Doctors also have to deal with the suffering of daily life, and we sometimes have doctors living in tents. We have to look for bread and water, which are hard to come by.
"In the past, the Rafah crossing was still open and a few cases, very few in number, especially the most delicate ones, were able to leave the enclave to be treated. There were delegations from several organizations and countries, medical teams and others, supporting us in our work. They brought us medical equipment and certain medicines. That's all over now. The Rafah crossing has been closed: No one can get in or out.
"The situation is catastrophic. And it's massacre after massacre."
