Dire conditions at Kamal Adwan Hospital: No doctors, depleted supplies, says director nursing

The situation at Kamal Adwan Hospital in northern Gaza remains catastrophic, according to Eid Sabbah, the director of nursing.

The third floor of the Kamal Adwan Hospital in northern Gaza was on Thursday bombed leading to the loss of crucial medical supplies delivered five days ago.

The hospital lacks essential medical teams, including doctors, surgeons, and orthopaedic specialists, and over 33 medical staff members have been arrested, leaving the hospital severely understaffed, with only three doctors remaining, two of whom are recent graduates and not qualified to perform surgeries.

The Israeli army’s destruction of critical infrastructure, including oxygen and electricity stations, the main water pump, and ambulances, has further exacerbated the crisis.

Sabbah declared that the remaining resources were insufficient to sustain life. Approximately 120 wounded patients remain in the hospital, with a third requiring immediate surgical attention. However, the lack of qualified medical personnel and equipment hinders effective treatment.

He added that five days ago, a delegation from the World Health Organization arrived with a small amount of fuel for the generators to operate and some medical supplies, but “immediately after the delegation left the hospital on the same night, the Israeli army stormed the hospital, destroyed a lot of things inside, destroyed the medical supplies that we had received.”

Human Rights Watch has reported similar attacks on medical facilities in Gaza, including the Indonesian Hospital and the International Eye Care Center. These incidents have resulted in significant damage, injuries, and loss of life. The organization has condemned the actions as unlawful and potentially amounting to war crimes.

The crisis in Gaza’s healthcare system is dreadful, with hospitals struggling to cope with the influx of wounded patients amid severe shortages of medical staff, equipment, and supplies.