Dr. Victoria Rose, a consultant plastic surgeon from London, has embarked on a critical mission in Gaza, where she is providing essential medical care to war victims. Having taken leave from her position at St. Thomas’ Hospital, Dr. Rose is volunteering with the charity IDEALS (International Disaster and Emergency Aid with Long-term Support) in a region facing severe humanitarian challenges.
During her recent visit in May 2024, Dr. Rose witnessed alarming conditions, including “appalling” levels of malnutrition and starvation among the population. She described the situation as increasingly desperate, with casualties from ongoing violence rising sharply. “The mass casualties just didn’t stop. It was really shocking,” she noted in a video diary recorded while working in a Gazan hospital.
Medical Challenges Amid Conflict
Initially, Dr. Rose and her colleagues focused on treating blast injuries, including numerous severe burns and shrapnel wounds. However, as the conflict intensified, they became overwhelmed with gunshot injuries. “That’s really all we saw,” she remarked. Despite the emotionally challenging work, Dr. Rose emphasized her commitment to making a difference in the limited time available. “I’m just trying to get as much done as I possibly can,” she stated.
Dr. Rose’s team operated at Nasser Hospital in southern Gaza, which has been a target of multiple Israeli airstrikes. For 28 days, they performed surgeries around the clock under difficult conditions, often working late into the night. The team faced significant challenges, including limited access to food, surviving on energy bars and dried meals they had packed. With fuel shortages affecting hospital operations, they had to ration energy use, leaving facilities without air conditioning.
In addition to the immediate threat of violence, Dr. Rose highlighted a concerning rise in illness among the local population due to poor sanitation. The ongoing conflict has exacerbated health risks, leading to an uptick in cases of flaccid paralysis, a rare condition where the immune system attacks the nervous system. “Usually, Gaza would see a couple of cases a year, but in the last month, they’ve had 37 cases in people under the age of 15,” she reported, calling the statistics “really shocking.”
Witnessing the Humanitarian Crisis
Dr. Rose has made three trips to Gaza since the conflict escalated in October 2023. Each visit has revealed a worsening humanitarian situation. Reflecting on her first visit in March 2024, she described ordinary citizens taking shelter in the European Gaza Hospital, where makeshift living spaces filled with families disrupted by violence were a common sight. “All the gardens were full of tents… entire families living behind carpets and sheets,” she recalled, expressing her surprise at the extent of the disruption.
On her return in August 2024, the devastation was even more profound. “It was like going through the set of a moonscape film or something. There were no structures standing,” she said, emphasizing the stark reality of a region in ruins. The ongoing violence has made it increasingly difficult for aid workers to access those in need. As Israel continues to assert that Hamas uses civilian infrastructure for military purposes, the situation remains complex and fraught with tension.
Now back in London, Dr. Rose finds it challenging to watch the news coverage of the conflict. She is focused on planning future missions and raising funds to support her work. IDEALS continues to send medical teams to Gaza monthly, but access is becoming increasingly restricted. “I would love to go back, but I am fairly confident my application is going to be denied when I next try,” she said, noting that her family is concerned about her safety in the warzone.
Dr. Rose’s experiences underscore the urgent need for medical assistance in Gaza, as humanitarian conditions deteriorate further. Her dedication to helping those affected by the conflict reflects a broader commitment by many professionals working to alleviate suffering in some of the world’s most challenging environments.
