Gaza s Wounded Now Filling Hospital Beds Set Aside for COVID Patients
On 5/14/21 at 9:44 AM EDT
As the conflict continues, hospitals say they won t be able to care for COVID-19 patients. We have only 15 intensive care beds, and all I can do is pray, European Hospital Director Yousef al-Akkad told the
Associated Press. I pray these airstrikes will stop soon.
For more reporting from the Associated Press, see below.
Palestinian patients receive medical care at the intensive care unit in the Shifa hospital in Gaza City on May 13, 2021. Just weeks ago, the Gaza Strip’s feeble health care system was struggling with a runaway surge of coronavirus cases. Now doctors across the crowded coastal enclave are trying to keep up with a very different crisis: blast and shrapnel wounds, cuts and amputations.
At the Indonesia Hospital in the northern town of Jabaliya, the clinic overflowed after bombs fell nearby. Blood was everywhere, with victims lying on the floors of hallways. Relatives crowded the ER, crying out for loved ones and cursing Israel.
“Before the military attacks, we had major shortages and could barely manage with the second (virus) wave,” said Gaza Health Ministry official Abdelatif al-Hajj by phone as bombs thundered in the background. “Now casualties are coming from all directions, really critical casualties. I fear a total collapse.
Credit: AP
Palestinian doctors and medics walk inside the emergency room of the Shifa hospital in Gaza City, Thursday, May 13, 2021. (AP Photo/Khalil Hamra)
By Associated Press
GAZA CITY: Just weeks ago, the Gaza Strip’s feeble health system was struggling with a runaway surge of coronavirus cases. Authorities cleared out hospital operating rooms, suspended nonessential care and redeployed doctors to patients having difficulty breathing.
Then, the bombs began to fall.
This week s violence between Israel and Gaza s Hamas rulers has killed 103 Palestinians, including 27 children, and wounded 530 people in the impoverished territory. Israeli airstrikes have pounded apartments, blown up cars and toppled buildings.
Doctors across the crowded coastal enclave are now reallocating intensive care unit beds and scrambling to keep up with a very different health crisis: treating blast and shrapnel wounds, bandaging cuts and performing amputations.
May 14, 2021 Share
Just weeks ago, the Gaza Strip’s feeble health system was struggling with a runaway surge of coronavirus cases. Authorities cleared out hospital operating rooms, suspended nonessential care and redeployed doctors to patients having difficulty breathing.
Then, the bombs began to fall.
This week’s violence between Israel and Gaza’s Hamas rulers has killed 103 Palestinians, including 27 children, and wounded 530 people in the impoverished territory. Israeli airstrikes have pounded apartments, blown up cars and toppled buildings.
Doctors across the crowded coastal enclave are now reallocating intensive care unit beds and scrambling to keep up with a very different health crisis: treating blast and shrapnel wounds, bandaging cuts and performing amputations.
Published Thursday, May 13, 2021 4:53PM EDT GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip (AP) - Just weeks ago, the Gaza Strip s feeble health system was struggling with a runaway surge of coronavirus cases. Authorities cleared out hospital operating rooms, suspended nonessential care and redeployed doctors to patients having difficulty breathing. Then, the bombs began to fall. This week s violence between Israel and Gaza s Hamas rulers has killed 103 Palestinians, including 27 children, and wounded 530 people in the impoverished territory. Israeli airstrikes have pounded apartments, blown up cars and toppled buildings. Doctors across the crowded coastal enclave are now reallocating intensive care unit beds and scrambling to keep up with a very different health crisis: treating blast and shrapnel wounds, bandaging cuts and performing amputations.