Gaza resembles “something out of a Mad Max movie”, with lawlessness on the streets and amputations carried out on children daily, an Irish surgeon who left Palestinian territory this week has said.
Dr Morgan McMonagle, a University hospital Waterford consultant vascular and trauma surgeon, spent the past three weeks working at Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis. He worked in the enclave on two previous occasions.
Despite the US-backed ceasefire which started on 10 October, Dr McMonagle told RTÉ’s Morning Ireland the situation in Gaza is as bad as ever.
Speaking ahead of his departure from Gaza, he said: “I don’t know if you heard in the background, there’s an F-35 airplane flying over me at the moment. There are still reconnaissance missions going on. We have the constant drone noise – that’s 24/7. We’re hearing explosions every single day,” he said.
On his first night back in Gaza, there was a mass casualty emergency. Most of the dead and injured were hit by shrapnel.
“We were given a security warning that Israel had made a decision to bomb various parts of Gaza, which then happened, and we had a mass casualty incident at about 3.30-4am in the morning. We had, I think the figures were, 23 dead that night, and I think about 60 or 65 severely injured.There were operations going on all night,” he said.
“of the 23 brought in dead that night, I think about 13 or 14 were under the age of 18.
“They were mostly shrapnel injuries. That’s because if you’re close enough to the epicentre of a military-grade explosion, you’re effectively dead, due to the power of the actual explosion itself.
“So, most of the people who arrived alive with shrapnel injury, the problem with shrapnel is you’ve got hundreds of pieces of metal and cement and grit going at supersonic speed. It’s never a single system injury. So, it’ll affect your brain, your chest, your abdomen, your limbs.
“So, such as, a 14-year-old girl who we operated on ended up with major vascular injuries to her lower limb and her upper limb. She also had penetrating injury of her brain and her belly. Two days later, I did an amputation of her leg, and three days after that, she died.
“From my experience, if you receive shrapnel penetrating injury to the brain, from my experience, it is indeed almost a 100% mortality injury,” he said.
“It is like something from a Mad Max movie where a post-apocalyptic disaster has occurred. The difference being, of course, this is completely man-made”
In recent days Dr McMonagle, who is originally from Cavan town, amputated a 14-year-old boy’s leg. The boy’s dreams of playing with Manchester United died with the life-saving procedure.
“It’s never nice, amputating a limb of a child. I did one yesterday, a 14-year-old boy who received a gunshot to his leg, we repaired the vessels. Didn’t work, his leg died, took off his leg yesterday. I saw him this morning, he’s doing very well.”He’s just lost his leg and he was a keen soccer player. He told me through the interpreter he wanted to play for Man United. You know,it’s unlikely he’d play soccer again because it’s what we call an above-knee amputation,so he’s lost his knee. But children are children and he seemed reasonably happy to see me this morning.
“His parents were naturally very upset. But again, this is a recurring theme.”
“And I’ve done many, many amputations of children, all in Gaza, all in gaza, all due to either gunshot wounds or shotgun injury.All man-made,” dr McMonagle said.
Report on Conditions in Gaza – November 14, 2023 (Based on Interview with Dr. Morgan McMonagle)
This report summarizes the observations of Dr. Morgan McMonagle, an irish doctor working in Gaza, as reported in an interview with RTÉ (Ireland’s National Public Service Media) on November 14, 2023. The situation in Gaza is dire, characterized by severe shortages of medical supplies, food, and basic sanitation, leading to widespread suffering and a breakdown of order.
Medical Situation:
Dr. McMonagle reports a critical lack of medical resources.Essential supplies are scarce due to an Israeli ban on their entry, forcing medical staff to “compromise” and utilize whatever is available. This results in patients experiencing pain during procedures. He specifically noted a lack of protein impacting patient recovery.
Food Security & Nutrition:
While some carbohydrates, primarily rice, are entering Gaza, there is a notable lack of protein. Dr. McMonagle has observed children presenting with “all the hallmarks of malnutrition,” including significant weight loss. He also noted that local medical staff have lost weight, indicating widespread food insecurity. The approaching winter exacerbates the situation, as people are living in tents with inadequate shelter.
Living Conditions & Sanitation:
The situation outside the hospital is described as catastrophic. Most people are living in tents near rubbish dumps and open sewage, creating a breeding ground for infection. Dr. McMonagle likened the scene to a “Mad Max” movie, characterized by destroyed buildings, makeshift shelters, and a breakdown of law and order. He described the landscape as a “jungle of concrete wreckage.” The lack of sanitation and the presence of animals contribute to the pervasive risk of infection.
Security & Perceptions of the Ceasefire:
Law and order have largely collapsed in Gaza, creating a dangerous habitat. Locals view the current cessation of hostilities not as a ceasefire, but as a “pause” in the conflict. Despite the pause, bombings, shootings, and drone/aircraft surveillance continue.
Concerns of Genocide:
Dr. McMonagle reported that locals believe a genocide is underway, with some nationalities aiming to “raze the palestinians as a race.” Medical personnel have been instructed to prioritize the care of living children and women of fertile age, reflecting the gravity of the situation and fears for the future.
Source:
* RTÉ News: https://www.rte.ie/news/world/2023/1114/1414141-gaza-doctor-report/
Note: This report is based on the observations of one individual and represents a snapshot of the situation as of November 14, 2023. The situation in Gaza is rapidly evolving,and conditions may have changed since the date of the interview.