Focus on the BIG picture.
Monday, Mar 17, 2025
Outside the box.
Australian Doctors Volunteer Amid Humanitarian Crisis in Gaza
Health professionals from Australia provide critical medical assistance as Gaza faces immense strain amidst ongoing conflict and limited resources.
Australian doctors have ventured into Gaza's beleaguered healthcare system, confronting stark realities as the territory suffers under severe humanitarian pressures.
With access heavily controlled due to Israel's control over Gaza's airspace, territorial waters, and border crossings, these medical professionals have become vital presences amidst a collapsing health infrastructure.
Dr. Mohammad Awad, a neurosurgeon who recently returned to Melbourne after two weeks volunteering in Gaza, described the experience as eye-opening.
He noted, "It’s almost surreal seeing that level of destruction; I don’t think you’re ever prepared for it until you see it."
Dr. Awad operated mainly at the European Gaza Hospital and visited other facilities, including Nassar and al-Aqsa Hospitals, where he treated patients suffering from untreated conditions like brain tumors, spinal injuries, and gunshot wounds.
He emphasized the overwhelming demand for medical care, stating, "The level of need is intense," highlighting that “hospitals are filled with inpatients and outpatients, with many others hanging around the hospitals with nowhere else to go."
In addition, Dr. Chris Holden, another Australian doctor volunteering with the Palestinian Australian New Zealand Medical Association (PANZMA), cited the critical damage to medical infrastructure.
He reported that most hospitals are under-resourced due to ongoing blockades and a lack of supplies, contributing to unnecessary deaths.
Dr. Holden stated that every day, medical teams were confronted with patients who had been seriously injured, including children.
During the war, the medical landscape in Gaza underwent significant changes, with essential services shifting to smaller makeshift clinics run by non-governmental organizations.
Notably, the region's medical capabilities have been severely hampered; all MRI scanners in Gaza have been rendered non-functional due to war-related damage, forcing doctors to rely on less effective CT scans for diagnoses, complicating treatment decisions.
Reports indicate that Gaza has faced extensive power outages and a serious shortage of clean water, exacerbating the strain on the healthcare system.
Local medical staff are reported to be fatigued and overwhelmed, many of whom lack extensive international experience.
The precarious situation has also extended to ceasefire negotiations.
Since the first phase of a ceasefire ended on March 2, negotiations for a more permanent resolution remain stalled.
Israel has rejected proposals to fully engage in discussions aimed at a sustained cessation of hostilities, while Hamas has indicated that it will resume its hostage release efforts only under these negotiations.
Aid deliveries into Gaza ceased 13 days ago amid the ongoing deadlock, creating additional hardships for the already suffering population.
Furthermore, tensions escalated recently, with reports of Israeli airstrikes in the Gaza Strip, resulting in casualties among civilians, including children and journalists.
The Israeli military stated that these strikes targeted individuals it identified as militants.
The ongoing conflict began with a significant cross-border raid by Hamas on October 7, 2023, resulting in over 1,200 Israeli casualties and the abduction of 251 hostages, according to Israeli sources.
In retaliation, Israeli military operations in Gaza have resulted in the deaths of more than 48,000 Palestinians, according to Gazan health officials, while much of the territory has been left in ruins.
With access heavily controlled due to Israel's control over Gaza's airspace, territorial waters, and border crossings, these medical professionals have become vital presences amidst a collapsing health infrastructure.
Dr. Mohammad Awad, a neurosurgeon who recently returned to Melbourne after two weeks volunteering in Gaza, described the experience as eye-opening.
He noted, "It’s almost surreal seeing that level of destruction; I don’t think you’re ever prepared for it until you see it."
Dr. Awad operated mainly at the European Gaza Hospital and visited other facilities, including Nassar and al-Aqsa Hospitals, where he treated patients suffering from untreated conditions like brain tumors, spinal injuries, and gunshot wounds.
He emphasized the overwhelming demand for medical care, stating, "The level of need is intense," highlighting that “hospitals are filled with inpatients and outpatients, with many others hanging around the hospitals with nowhere else to go."
In addition, Dr. Chris Holden, another Australian doctor volunteering with the Palestinian Australian New Zealand Medical Association (PANZMA), cited the critical damage to medical infrastructure.
He reported that most hospitals are under-resourced due to ongoing blockades and a lack of supplies, contributing to unnecessary deaths.
Dr. Holden stated that every day, medical teams were confronted with patients who had been seriously injured, including children.
During the war, the medical landscape in Gaza underwent significant changes, with essential services shifting to smaller makeshift clinics run by non-governmental organizations.
Notably, the region's medical capabilities have been severely hampered; all MRI scanners in Gaza have been rendered non-functional due to war-related damage, forcing doctors to rely on less effective CT scans for diagnoses, complicating treatment decisions.
Reports indicate that Gaza has faced extensive power outages and a serious shortage of clean water, exacerbating the strain on the healthcare system.
Local medical staff are reported to be fatigued and overwhelmed, many of whom lack extensive international experience.
The precarious situation has also extended to ceasefire negotiations.
Since the first phase of a ceasefire ended on March 2, negotiations for a more permanent resolution remain stalled.
Israel has rejected proposals to fully engage in discussions aimed at a sustained cessation of hostilities, while Hamas has indicated that it will resume its hostage release efforts only under these negotiations.
Aid deliveries into Gaza ceased 13 days ago amid the ongoing deadlock, creating additional hardships for the already suffering population.
Furthermore, tensions escalated recently, with reports of Israeli airstrikes in the Gaza Strip, resulting in casualties among civilians, including children and journalists.
The Israeli military stated that these strikes targeted individuals it identified as militants.
The ongoing conflict began with a significant cross-border raid by Hamas on October 7, 2023, resulting in over 1,200 Israeli casualties and the abduction of 251 hostages, according to Israeli sources.
In retaliation, Israeli military operations in Gaza have resulted in the deaths of more than 48,000 Palestinians, according to Gazan health officials, while much of the territory has been left in ruins.
