Dr. Victoria Rose, a consultant plastic surgeon, recently shared her experiences working in Gaza during the ongoing conflict. She served in hospitals there for two separate periods last year, witnessing the dire conditions firsthand.
The situation in Gaza’s hospitals is alarming. Dr. Rose reported seeing at least ten patients daily, with a shocking 60% of them being children under 15. Many of these young patients suffered from severe burns and amputations, often losing family members in the violence. They face life-changing injuries and are left to cope with their trauma.
Dr. Rose began her work in Gaza in 2019 with the charity IDEALS, which supports medical professionals in crisis situations. She returned last year after learning that a colleague from Gaza was overwhelmed with complex trauma cases following the outbreak of war in October 2023. Her mission was to provide essential surgical equipment and help local medical teams manage the growing number of trauma cases. However, as the conflict continued, another key goal emerged: to bear witness to the suffering.
During her time in Gaza, Dr. Rose worked at the European Gaza Hospital in March 2024 and then at Nasser Hospital in August. She described the transformation of the landscape between her visits, noting the extensive destruction that left the streets unrecognizable, filled with rubble and dust. The scale of devastation raises questions about the justification for such widespread destruction.
In February 2024, Dr. Rose and her team were denied entry to Gaza by COGAT, a part of the Israeli Defense Forces managing access in the region. This denial has become a common occurrence for many foreign doctors. Fortunately, they regained access in May.
Initially, the mission was planned for four weeks at the European Gaza Hospital. However, due to the bombing of the hospital on their arrival, they were redirected to Nasser Hospital. The situation for the local population worsened, with many being displaced, bombed in their temporary shelters, and deprived of basic necessities like water and sanitation. The situation became even more desperate when internet access was cut off.
Dr. Rose and her colleagues worked under challenging conditions, often without essential supplies like painkillers and antibiotics. They patched up patients, knowing they could be bombed again at any moment.
Nasser Hospital, where Dr. Rose worked, is the only facility in southern Gaza equipped with a CT scanner, blood bank, ICU capabilities, and an oxygen generator. The team she worked with has been traveling to Gaza since 2009, providing ongoing support to local medical staff.
IDEALS has been involved in Gaza’s healthcare since 2013, focusing on lower limb reconstruction and training local surgeons. Dr. Rose previously arranged for a plastic surgeon from Gaza to train with her in London, who later returned to lead the plastic surgery department at Shifa Hospital.
As the conflict continues, Dr. Rose feels compelled to help her colleagues and the people of Gaza. She emphasizes the urgent need for support and attention to the humanitarian crisis unfolding in the region.