Background
The intensity of the shelling in northern Gaza in October, 2024, resulted in numerous deaths and destruction as reported by various international media with information from the Gaza Ministry of Health.
According to reports, at least 42,000 Palestinians have been killed and nearly 100,000 people have suffered war injuries since the start of the ongoing offensive in Gaza last year.
The few medical facilities still operating in the area are already beyond capacity “as they receive evacuation orders.” “They are running out of fuel and essential supplies as doctors and nurses struggle to save lives with what little they have left.” The statement adds.
1. Who is Dr Muhammad Saleh?
Dr Saleh is the Acting Director of Al Awda Hospital in North Gaza. When Dr. Ahmed Muhanna was taken in custody by Israeli forces on December 17th 2023, Dr Saleh stepped in as acting director of the Al-Awda Hospital. His family had to flee to a refugee camp in Rafah, Southern Gaza. He has very limited communication with his family. By late October 2024 Dr. Saleh denounced the dire situation in Northern Gaza when the hospital he directed was besieged for the second time. Shortage of medical supplies, lack of water, food only makes it worse, there is no fuel for electricity.
2. What happened?
“At dawn on Wednesday morning [18th Dec], around 2.30 am local time, the Israeli occupation began [setting off] exploding robots within the perimeter of the hospital. This resulted in massive destruction within a number of hospital departments. The destruction of the water tanks, medical equipment, electrical equipment [power supply].
There were 7 healthcare staff injured inside the hospital, in addition to one patient who was also injured. All the doors of the hospital were destroyed, as well as the windows. The [patient] transport vehicles were partially destroyed.
The water supply is now cut off to Al-Awda Hospital on top of the [pre existing] shortage of fuel, medicines and medical supplies as a result of 80+ days of total siege on the north of the Gaza Strip that continues until now.”
Said Dr Muhammad Saleh in a communication that managed to get out despite the siege.
3. Support the AWDA field hospital in Gaza
Awda field hospital in central Gaza now operational
Sources at the Awda Hospital in Central Gaza assured that the Field Hospital is now operational, “We have started to run the emergency, outpatient and wound care services inside the field hospital,” said an official at the Al Awda Field Hospital in Al Nuseirat, Central Gaza.
This has been possible thanks to the persistence of Al Awda's emergency humanitarian care team and of course to the construction, equipping and sustainment obtained with the support of donations from all over the world.
