Gaza has become a death camp, says surgeon

"I’m literally going through the emergency department picking the patients – this one we can save, that one, no."

A surgeon said Gaza has become a "death damp". Gower-based surgeon Suheal Khan said the situation has "deteriorated" dramatically during his recent trip to volunteer with aid charity Medical Aid for Palestinians (MAP).

The 60-year-old orthopaedic surgeon said: "Gaza has become a death camp now. We talk about the triangle of death – dehydration, famine and disease, disease is spreading everywhere as with the recent outbreak of polio not seen in Gaza for over two decade. This is unfortunately just the start."

Mr Khan was volunteering at Nasser Hospital, one of the largest hospitals in the Gaza Strip which has been shelled by Israeli forces and is said to be barely functioning.

READ MORE: Children of dad murdered in 'horrific' killing ask when they will 'see daddy again'

READ MORE: Sex offender posed as teacher and sent obscene photos to '12-year-old girl'

Mr Khan said there were shortages of supplies, including of insulin to treat diabetes and other common conditions.

He said: "What people don’t seem to understand is that as well as it being a war zone people still get ill, they still having heart attacks, they’re still having babies and there still a need for renal dialysis. The health system itself is in freefall.

"When I went there in August 2023, before the start of the war, I was surprised at the lack of orthopaedics surgical kit. I’m flabbergasted how the Gazans have managed with such limited supplies. But the biggest problem is infection. The wards are full, the corridors are full.

"The trauma treatment is intermittent – two camps were hit while I was there and it was bedlam. The other problem is that around 60% of the senior doctors are no longer in Gaza – they’ve either left for Egypt, are in prison or have been killed.

"So, you’ve got medical students and nurses and people who have never seen a tourniquet in the middle of a war zone. It’s not their fault and they are doing the best they can but it’s complete and utter bedlam. I’m literally going through the emergency department picking the patients – this one we can save, that one, no."

READ MORE: Face of murderer who killed dad of four in frenzied attack finally revealed

READ MORE:Man released early from prison lives in tent under a bridge wishing he was back inside

Between his visits in January and July, Mr Khan says Gaza has deteriorated "about 200 to 300%" when it comes to medical equipment and staffing.

He said: "There are simple condition which can’t be treated because of lack of supplies of things like insulin or antibiotics. You’ve got maggots coming out of wounds, in brain tissue, it’s indescribable."

The 60-year-old has been volunteering in Gaza for almost 15 years, spending nearly a year there in 2010 where he established a limb reconstruction unit. Suheal continues to return to the warzone because of the Gazan people, saying they are very stoical, very strong, very forthright."

In Swansea, he is an expert on limb reconstruction, founding the world's first charity dedicated to limb reconstruction, Mobile International Surgical Teams (MIST), and helping to establish a Wales Centre for Limb Reconstruction. For the latest Swansea news, sign up to our newsletter here

The number of deaths caused by minor conditions is a cause for concern, with many ailments going untreated due to lack of basic medial care. Suheal said: "The message we want to get across is that people are dying there of very easily treatable diseases. People are having heart attacks and not getting anti coagulants, dying of deep vein thrombosis which is easily treatable.

People are dying left right and centre because of lack of basic medical care. It’s very frustrating – you can put a leg back on but you can’t give someone insulin which simply isn’t there."

Join the WalesOnline WhatsApp community

WalesOnline has launched a new breaking news and top stories WhatsApp community. From the biggest court stories to the latest traffic updates, weather warnings and breaking news, it's a simple way to stay up to date with what's happening in Wales.

Want to join? All you have to do is click on this link, select 'Join Community' and you're in. We will not spam your feed with constant messages, but you will receive updates from us daily.

If for some reason you decide you no longer want to be in our community, you can leave by clicking on the name at the top of your screen and clicking 'Exit Group'. We occasionally treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. You can read our Privacy Notice here.

Join our WhatsApp community here.