Gaza Medical Crisis - Hospitals in the Gaza Strip
Although this story was shot in May of 2006, it shows the incredible stress Gaza’s medical system was under in a period of relative calm. Because the Israeli government is preventing me from entering Gaza to shoot the current situation, I am re-posting this story to let you use your imagination as to what might be happening in Gaza right now.
In May of 2006, several months after U.S. and Israeli sanctions closed Gaza’s borders and prevented everything from goods, money and medicine from entering the country, Gaza’s hospitals became overwhelmed with sick and dying patients that they were unable to treat and care for due to lack of supplies. From babies being delivered without the doctors being able to wash their hands with soap, to terminally ill patients dying in the hallways after their medication ran out, it was truly a horrific scene to witness.
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The entrance to El Shafa, Gaza’s primary medical facility in Gaza City, Gaza in May, 2006
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An infant lies in the neonatal emergency ward of El Shafa, Gaza’s primary medical facility in Gaza City.. Doctors were delivering babies without being able to use soap or paper towels to clean their hands during the height of the medical crisis.
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A boy on dialysis in El Shafa hospital. Patients on dialysis struggled as supplies ran low and parts for failing machines remained stuck in Israel unable to cross the border.
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An elderly woman on dialysis in El Shafa hospital.
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An elderly woman suffering from dementia in El Wafa hospital. Mental institutions and homes for the elderly suffered desperately when medications to treat mental illnesses such as dementia were not allowed to cross into Gaza.
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A patient lies in bed with a fly crawling on his face in El Wafa hospital.
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A young terminally ill boy lies in bed dying without access to medication in Al Naser hospital.
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An elderly woman in El Wafa hospital.
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A young cancer patient waits for chemotherapy supplies that lie stuck in Israel without permission to cross into Gaza.
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The intensive care unit's medical supply closet in El Shafa hospital sits nearly empty after sanctions cut medical aid from reaching the Gaza Strip.
This is horrible !! I sure wish that the "objective" media would go after the Islamic instigators INSTEAD of Israel.
Unbelievable, heart breaking to sy the least.
But again, Israel NEVER uses hospitals or schools to shield its military actions.
Posted by: Scott S di Vincenzo | January 07, 2009 at 22:22
Again, these are some of the most powerful images iv seen related to this story.
They dont feel.. intrusive which i think is something that is hard to achieve in images like these.
Please keep the images coming. You are doing an amazing job, people have stories that need to be told and need to be heard.
Posted by: - | January 08, 2009 at 05:03
to be honest the text is more depressing. the pictures are - common in developing countries. a fly on a face? so what? the question is: will the state of palestina one time be able to manage hospitals by their own? the sad thing is that they still depend on aid from outside.
Posted by: thomas | January 08, 2009 at 06:50
This is a great set of articles you've been posting, Zoriah. I like the fact that you're bringing attention to a troubled region via older photos due to the fact that you can't gain access at the moment. Keep doing what you're doing, and remain neutral... and definitely stay safe in your current pursuits.
Posted by: Brian Auer | January 08, 2009 at 07:15
thank you. time and time again i visit your site and come away with an abiding depth of gratitude for your work and your efforts. today you are my hero.
Posted by: felicia | January 11, 2009 at 20:07