Deadly strike on Rafah: 'Most of the wounded are likely to die in the next few days'

Ezzedine Shahine, an anesthesiologist at al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital in Gaza, told L'Orient-Le Jour about Sunday evening's Israeli strike on the “Barkasat” camp for displaced persons in Rafah in the south of the enclave, which killed 45 people, some of whom were reportedly “burned alive,” according to the most recent provisional assessment by the Gazan Ministry of Health.

Here's his account:

“I'm an anesthetist at al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital. We're the only hospital still operating 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 have also been receiving wounded from Nousseirat, where there have been bombardments all night long. 

“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 kinds of burns. We know which weapons were used, based on the injuries. Many of the wounded passed through the operating theatre. For most of them, if they didn't die on the spot, they'll die in the next few days.

“Usually, when this kind of severe burn occurs, patients are sent to specialized centers. There used to be one at al-Shifa Hospital, it was 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 profession 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.

“Before, 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, who supported 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.”

This article originally appeared in French in L'Orient-Le Jour.