UK-funded Field Hospital Providing Lifeline in Gaza

The first UK-funded field hospital in Gaza is on the brink of full operation, set up by the aid organization UK-Med to provide vital medical care ranging from minor illnesses to serious injuries such as bullet wounds.

Located near the overcrowded city of Rafah in Gaza, where 1.5 million Palestinians have sought refuge from other parts of the territory, the facility is part of a crucial effort to address the immense medical needs in the region, according to UK-Med’s chief executive David Wightwick.

Amid the sounds of construction at the Al Mawasi site, Wightwick described the dire state of healthcare in the area, emphasizing the urgent need for services with the local health infrastructure severely depleted.

The field hospital, dispatched from Manchester, is being built on a vast stretch of desert land, a challenge exacerbated by delays at the border and limited resources, forcing the team to utilize local timber salvaged from demolished buildings.

Despite obstacles, the hospital is already seeing around 100 outpatients daily, with expectations to double this number soon, while UK-Med’s mobile clinics reach into the community to provide essential healthcare.

Inside Gaza’s Al Aqsa hospital, the only operational facility in the central strip, chaos reigns with overflowing wards and makeshift accommodations for families. A poignant example is 12-year-old Anas, who suffered injuries from a bombing that claimed the lives of his mother and baby brother.

Orthopedic trauma surgeon Saba Papuashvili, part of the UK-Med team, commended Anas’s bravery as he prepared for surgery to address his broken leg and facial wounds.

Anaesthetist Judith Kendall expressed shock at the extent of injuries, particularly among children, describing them as life-altering wounds with lasting consequences.

As the medical team faces the dangers of working in a conflict zone, including attacks on hospitals, they acknowledge the risks involved but remain committed to providing humanitarian aid in the midst of crisis.

In the face of potential ground invasion threats in Rafah by Israeli forces, the British-funded field hospital stands as a beacon of hope, ready to offer critical medical support to those in need.