Critical Medical Shortages in Gaza: An American Surgeon Reports on Dire Conditions
Dr. Mark Perlmutter highlights the devastating impact of inadequate medical supplies and infrastructure in Gaza hospitals.
LONDON: An American surgeon recently reported alarming conditions in Gaza's medical facilities, where a catastrophic shortage of supplies is leading to preventable deaths among Palestinian patients.
Dr. Mark Perlmutter, who spent three weeks working in Al-Aqsa and Nasser hospitals, described dire circumstances, stating that doctors are treating patients without essential items such as soap, antibiotics, or X-ray machines.
Dr. Perlmutter characterized Al-Aqsa Hospital as significantly undersized compared to facilities in the United States, emphasizing its struggle to manage severe injuries.
‘The small community hospital, Al-Aqsa, is a tenth the size of any of the facilities in my home state — maybe smaller — and it did well to manage those horrible injuries,’ he said.
However, he noted that a lack of equipment contributed to the deaths of many patients who might have survived in better-equipped facilities.
Among the patients treated were severely injured children, including a 15-year-old girl who had been struck by Israeli machinegun fire while cycling and a boy of the same age who suffered injuries while in a car with his grandmother, following evacuation warnings from northern Gaza.
Dr. Perlmutter described their injuries, saying, ‘They were both macerated and shredded by Apache gunships.
The girl will be lucky if she keeps three of her limbs.’
Dr. Perlmutter was present at Nasser Hospital during an Israeli airstrike aimed at Hamas finance chief Ismail Barhoum, who was receiving medical treatment at the time.
Dr. Perlmutter noted that Barhoum was entitled to protection under the Geneva Convention, while the Israeli military claimed he was in the facility to carry out terror-related activities.
With most hospitals in Gaza struggling to function, he praised local medical staff, highlighting their dedication despite working under extreme conditions.
‘They all abandon their families, they volunteer, and often work without pay.
We get to go home in a month, which they don’t,’ he remarked.
The United Nations’ humanitarian chief, Tom Fletcher, has categorized the situation in Gaza as ‘dire’, indicating that humanitarian aid continues to be blocked at border crossings.
According to the Hamas-run Health Ministry, Israeli military actions have resulted in the deaths of over 15,000 Palestinian children.
Since a ceasefire was broken on March 18, at least 921 Palestinians have been reported killed.
Dr. Perlmutter warned that ongoing military actions and the lack of critical medical supplies could lead to more deaths among injured Palestinians from otherwise treatable conditions.
Dr. Mark Perlmutter, who spent three weeks working in Al-Aqsa and Nasser hospitals, described dire circumstances, stating that doctors are treating patients without essential items such as soap, antibiotics, or X-ray machines.
Dr. Perlmutter characterized Al-Aqsa Hospital as significantly undersized compared to facilities in the United States, emphasizing its struggle to manage severe injuries.
‘The small community hospital, Al-Aqsa, is a tenth the size of any of the facilities in my home state — maybe smaller — and it did well to manage those horrible injuries,’ he said.
However, he noted that a lack of equipment contributed to the deaths of many patients who might have survived in better-equipped facilities.
Among the patients treated were severely injured children, including a 15-year-old girl who had been struck by Israeli machinegun fire while cycling and a boy of the same age who suffered injuries while in a car with his grandmother, following evacuation warnings from northern Gaza.
Dr. Perlmutter described their injuries, saying, ‘They were both macerated and shredded by Apache gunships.
The girl will be lucky if she keeps three of her limbs.’
Dr. Perlmutter was present at Nasser Hospital during an Israeli airstrike aimed at Hamas finance chief Ismail Barhoum, who was receiving medical treatment at the time.
Dr. Perlmutter noted that Barhoum was entitled to protection under the Geneva Convention, while the Israeli military claimed he was in the facility to carry out terror-related activities.
With most hospitals in Gaza struggling to function, he praised local medical staff, highlighting their dedication despite working under extreme conditions.
‘They all abandon their families, they volunteer, and often work without pay.
We get to go home in a month, which they don’t,’ he remarked.
The United Nations’ humanitarian chief, Tom Fletcher, has categorized the situation in Gaza as ‘dire’, indicating that humanitarian aid continues to be blocked at border crossings.
According to the Hamas-run Health Ministry, Israeli military actions have resulted in the deaths of over 15,000 Palestinian children.
Since a ceasefire was broken on March 18, at least 921 Palestinians have been reported killed.
Dr. Perlmutter warned that ongoing military actions and the lack of critical medical supplies could lead to more deaths among injured Palestinians from otherwise treatable conditions.
