Humanitarian Crisis in Gaza: A Surge in Traumatic Injuries Amid Unrelenting Conflict

In her recent three-week volunteer mission in Gaza, Dr. Victoria Rose witnessed a surge in traumatic injuries due to violent conflict and food scarcity. As a surgeon in a functioning hospital, she treated many patients with severe wounds, particularly among children.

Dr. Victoria Rose, a senior plastic surgeon from London, dedicated 21 days to volunteer in Gaza this past May, and her experiences reveal the dire humanitarian situation in the enclave. She aimed to assist with the escalating medical needs, having previously volunteered in regions afflicted by crises. Just days before her return, she closely encountered a tragic mass shooting event at a food distribution site.

On June 1, the day she learned of the incident, Dr. Rose arrived at Nasser Hospital—the only major medical facility still operational in southern Gaza—at 8 a.m. "The emergency room was overwhelmed," she recounted, describing a grim scene where ambulances delivered lifeless bodies alongside donkey carts carrying victims of violence. The chaotic morning quickly escalated, as by 10 a.m., the hospital received around 20 dead bodies and over a hundred gunshot-wounded patients.

Dr. Rose's observations during her stay at Nasser revealed the health system in utter distress, responding to an influx of traumatic injuries reflective of the ongoing hostilities. She noted a stark increase in grievous wounds resulting from Israeli airstrikes. Patients arrived in a critical state; young children bore grave injuries—missing limbs and severe burns from explosions.

Reflecting on her medical encounters, she noted a trend where injuries were significantly more catastrophic than in earlier visits, some cases labeled “unsurvivable.” As violence continues to plague Gaza, the urgent need for humanitarian support grows ever more pressing, compounded by the chronic conditions within the beleaguered healthcare system.