As the conflict between Israel and Gaza escalates, Indonesian medical volunteers at the forefront of the crisis are facing unprecedented challenges. While the world focuses on the geopolitical dimensions of the conflict, the humanitarian situation is worsening, with hospitals becoming targets and essential supplies dwindling. In the midst of this chaos, Indonesian medical volunteer Fikri Rofiul Haq, stationed at the Indonesia Hospital in Gaza, shares his harrowing experience and commitment to saving lives despite the imminent dangers.
Strawberries to Battlefields: A Harvest Turned War Zone
In the heart of Gaza, where strawberry fields once flourished, Beit Lahia now bears witness to the devastating consequences of Israel’s relentless bombings. The lush lands, known for producing Palestine’s renowned strawberries, have transformed into battlefields, leaving behind destruction and despair. Fikri Rofiul Haq, a medical volunteer with the Medical Emergency Rescue Committee (MER-C), reports that this year’s strawberry harvest, a symbol of normalcy, is replaced by the struggle for survival.
Hospitals Under Siege: Humanitarian Crisis Deepens
Amid the chaos, hospitals in Gaza, including the Indonesia Hospital and Al-Shifa Hospital, are grappling with severe shortages of fuel, medicine, and essential supplies. Dr. Mohammad Abu Salmiya, the director of Al-Shifa Hospital, paints a grim picture of bodies decomposing due to the inability to store them properly. Atef al-Kahlot, the director of the Indonesia Hospital, issues a desperate plea for international intervention as the facility operates at a mere 30-40 percent of its capacity. The humanitarian crisis intensifies as Israel targets medical facilities, leaving thousands in urgent need of medical care.
Medical Volunteers Trapped in the Fray
Fikri Rofiul Haq recounts the stark transformation in the Indonesia Hospital’s ability to secure essential supplies. In the pre-war days, volunteers sourced goods locally, but with the conflict escalating, even the immediate surroundings have become too perilous to navigate. Haq shares the heart-wrenching reality of hospital staff surviving on one meal a day, provided by a neighboring hospital. As Israel’s attacks draw closer, the hospital’s capacity diminishes, leaving medical volunteers trapped within the confines of the facility.
In the face of overwhelming adversity, Fikri Rofiul Haq and his fellow MER-C volunteers stand resolute, choosing to remain in Gaza to provide essential aid to the displaced and wounded.
