Montreal Nurse Describes "Chaotic and Extremely Sad" Moments in Gaza

Montreal nurse Amy Low returned home from an 8-week job in Gaza with Doctors Without Borders. She described chaotic and sad moments as wounded and dead bodies were rushed to an MSF primary care facility. Low reported a sharp rise in acute malnutrition, with 700 pregnant and breastfeeding women and 500 children being treated at feeding centers. Local colleagues faced mental stress and fear for their loved ones, and hospitals faced shortages of supplies, forcing medical staff to make difficult decisions.

The ongoing conflict in Gaza has severely impacted the region's health infrastructure, leading to a critical shortage of medical care and an unprecedented rise in acute malnutrition among its residents. According to Doctors Without Borders/Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF), over 11,000 people, including more than 4,500 children, require medical evacuation to access care unavailable in the Strip [1].

The situation has been exacerbated by the decimation of Gaza’s health system by Israeli forces over the last 22 months of all-out war. MSF has managed to evacuate only 22 patients, including 13 children, to their reconstructive surgery hospital in Amman, Jordan, for comprehensive rehabilitative care [1]. The medical evacuation process has been complex and subject to change based on military stages in Gaza, with limited options for patients in need of urgent care [1].

The financial implications of this crisis are significant. The health system in Gaza is overwhelmed, prioritizing cases and limiting medical evacuations based on stringent medical and administrative criteria. This has led to a backlog of patients awaiting evacuation, with many critical cases being delayed or denied [1]. The limited options and destinations for medical evacuations have further strained the situation, with a majority of countries not open to taking cases from Gaza [1].

The humanitarian situation in Gaza has also been compounded by a sharp rise in acute malnutrition. MSF teams are witnessing a sharp and unprecedented rise in acute malnutrition among people in Gaza, with over 700 pregnant and breastfeeding women and nearly 500 children with severe and moderate malnutrition being treated at feeding centers [3]. The existence of malnutrition in Gaza is the result of deliberate, calculated choices by the Israeli authorities, who have restricted the entry of food to the bare minimum for survival and destroyed the majority of local food production capacity [3].

The financial impact of this crisis extends beyond healthcare. The destruction of infrastructure, including water and sanitation facilities, has led to sewage contamination and compromised living conditions in overcrowded camps. This has further exacerbated the health crisis and strained the local economy [3].

Investors and financial professionals should closely monitor the situation in Gaza, as the ongoing conflict and humanitarian crisis have significant financial implications. The crisis has led to a shortage of medical supplies, forcing medical staff to make difficult decisions and impacting the quality of care. The rise in acute malnutrition has also led to a surge in demand for food and medical supplies, placing additional strain on the local economy and the international community.

References:
[1] https://www.doctorswithoutborders.org/latest/medical-evacuation-gaza-thousands-need-care-no-longer-available-strip
[3] https://msf.org.au/article/project-news/gaza-acute-malnutrition-reaches-all-time-high-two-msf-facilities