Daily Struggles: Life as a Gaza Doctor Amidst Ongoing Conflict

In a stark depiction of life in war-torn Gaza, Dr. Wissam Sukkar shares her experiences working at a Médecins Sans Frontières clinic amidst critical shortages of supplies and overwhelming patient influx. With hospitals barely operational and a lack of essential medications, the healthcare system is on the brink of collapse.

Dr. Wissam Sukkar navigates the wreckage of Gaza City each day, balancing her role as a physician with the chaos surrounding her. The 18-month-long conflict between Israel and Hamas has taken a devastating toll on healthcare in the Gaza Strip. "I was walking for around 50 minutes to reach our clinic," she tells a BBC journalist at the Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) facility, where she works tirelessly to provide care for the displaced.

The United Nations' World Health Organization (WHO) reports that only 21 of Gaza’s 36 hospitals are operational, leading to a healthcare crisis worsened by Israel's blockade. Dr. Sukkar's previous workplace, a burns clinic, was destroyed in the conflict, forcing her team to set up a makeshift clinic in an office. By mid-morning, over 150 patients are already in line, many suffering from ailments related to shelter conditions and poor nutrition.

The doctor notes the considerable number of displaced individuals seeking medical help. "Most of our patients are displaced people," she says, as their numbers swell following the latest escalation in hostilities. Families have taken refuge in precarious conditions with limited access to food and clean water, leading to widespread malnutrition and illnesses.

Children bear the brunt of the crisis, as illnesses such as upper respiratory infections and gastroenteritis spread rapidly in crowded shelters. Dr. Sukkar describes the challenges of treating these patients, emphasizing the struggle to manage complicated cases amid dwindling resources. The ongoing warfare complicates their efforts, as the al-Ahli Arab hospital—previously a key medical site—has been rendered inoperable following recent airstrikes.

Patients like Saeed Barkat, who suffers from severe injuries sustained in bombardments, turn to the MSF clinic for continued care. With medical resources alarmingly low, Dr. Sukkar expresses deep concern: "For diabetes, we don't have insulin, we don't have treatments for epilepsy... We don't have basic medicines." The dire situation grows increasingly critical as clinic supplies dwindle.

Despite her efforts, the looming lack of clean water and food issues weighs heavily on Dr. Sukkar’s mind, even impacting her family life. "Like every Gazan, I have a daily struggle to secure clean water and food for my kids," she reflects.

As her workday comes to a close, Dr. Sukkar contemplates the uncertain future that looms over Gaza. "Most of all, it’s really hard to have any hope," she states, encapsulating the painful reality of life in her homeland. With no end in sight, the endless cycle of conflict deepens the darkness encircling the lives of people in Gaza.