KUWAIT: Ahmed Kouta, a 23-year-old Palestinian-Canadian nurse, has provided a detailed account of his experience working in a hospital in Gaza during a recent visit to Kuwait. His testimony, shared with Kuwait Times and Kuwait News shed light on the deteriorating conditions and the overwhelming challenges faced by medical staff and patients alike. This report outlines the critical points of his experience and the broader implications for both the local population and the international community.

Gaza’s hospitals

The humanitarian crisis in Gaza is severe, with famine hitting the population hard. Kouta described heartbreaking scenes of families stirring hot water as a means of providing a semblance of a meal to their children. Desperation for food is so intense that even the limited supplies reaching Gaza are sometimes feared to be tampered with, such as canned food potentially containing explosives.

Kouta described the situation in Gaza’s hospitals as worsening by the day, with most cases being children or individuals in need of immediate surgery. The severity of the cases was such that many patients could not survive, not only due to the extent of their injuries but also because of the lack of essential medical equipment and supplies. He recounted seeing bodies that were severely burned and patients who eventually succumbed to their injuries. Initially, the hospitals were overwhelmed with patients, with every available space occupied.

Patients and their families were found sleeping in stairways, hallways, and even under or between hospital beds. This overcrowding compromised the hospital’s hygiene and overall environment, which also creates a breeding ground for diseases spreading among everyone including the medical staff. The extreme conditions took a toll on the medical staff. The lack of clean uniforms, gloves, and basic medical supplies forced doctors to operate in medically imperfect conditions, such as resorting to performing surgeries with bare hands after merely washing them. This not only endangered the patients but also exposed the medical staff to diseases, with some doctors falling ill or losing their lives.

Ahmed Kouta

KUWAIT: Ahmed Kouta is seen during his interview with Kuwait Times and Kuwait News. — Photos by Yasser Al-Zayyat

Emotional toll

Emotionally, the situation has been devastating for everyone involved, Kouta said. Kouta emphasized the pervasive sense of despair, with many individuals, including himself, breaking down in tears as the situation unfolded. The close-knit nature of the Gaza community exacerbated this, as many people knew the victims arriving in ambulances, whether as relatives or colleagues. The constant threat of becoming a victim themselves added to the emotional strain. Kouta further elaborated on the difficulty of communicating with patients’ families, especially when a patient’s condition was critical but not immediately apparent to their relatives. He highlighted the challenge of explaining the inevitability of death to families who could see their loved ones still breathing, leading to disbelief and further emotional distress.

More challenges

Kouta noted that many patients died due to frequent electricity cuts, further complicating the hospital’s ability to provide life-saving treatment. Despite the dire circumstances, the medical staff strived to maintain hope, recognizing that they were seen as heroes by the community, even though they were struggling with the same fears and vulnerabilities.

Kouta expressed the deep sense of guilt felt by those who have left Gaza, knowing they have left their families and loved ones behind. Despite this, he continues to seek opportunities to return to Gaza through NGOs and medical teams to provide much-needed assistance.

He issued a message to the world, urging for immediate action and a ceasefire. He emphasized that the situation in Gaza is not just a local or regional issue but a matter of humanity. He warned that if the international community does not act, the horrors witnessed in Gaza could spread to other regions.