Dr. Ahmad Yousaf’s Medical Mission in Gaza: Witnessing Devastation

Dr. Ahmad Yousaf’s Medical Mission to Gaza

Dr. Ahmad Yousaf, a dedicated pediatrician from the United States and the director of an intensive care unit in Arkansas, undertook a medical mission to Gaza, motivated by the belief that his skills could significantly benefit the patients suffering there. However, upon arrival, he was confronted with a reality that surpassed his most harrowing expectations, compelling him to document the extensive devastation he witnessed.

“The primary focus of my work there was triaging and managing mass casualties,” Dr. Yousaf recounted. “This was not advanced I.C.U. care; we often never reached that stage. Tragically, many patients succumbed to their injuries.”

Volunteering with MedGlobal, a nonprofit organization based in the United States that offers humanitarian relief across the globe, Dr. Yousaf spent three intense weeks in one of Gaza’s few operational hospitals. He described the overwhelming impact of the ongoing conflict on both medical personnel and civilians, with a particular emphasis on the plight of children. Through his experience, he was able to share rare footage from within Al Aqsa Hospital in Deir al Balah with The New York Times.

During his time at the hospital, the medical teams were stretched beyond their limits, struggling to cope with the influx of trauma casualties as the Israeli military continued its bombings in adjacent areas, including designated humanitarian zones. Operating at three times the hospital’s intended capacity, staff members found themselves treating patients, many of whom were children, on makeshift beds created from cardboard on the floor. They faced critical shortages of essential supplies, such as blood, gauze, and anesthesia, leading to many preventable deaths.

“Decisions were made in the blink of an eye, and we did everything within our means,” Dr. Yousaf stated. “As my time there extended, I came to the realization that my role had shifted from that of a physician to that of a witness.”

Throughout his stay, Dr. Yousaf began sharing daily reflections with friends and family via WhatsApp. One poignant entry from June 30 detailed the experience of a teenage boy whose first words after being extubated were: “Please let me call my dad. I just want to make sure he’s OK and that he knows I’m alright.”

According to officials in Gaza, at least 10,000 Palestinian children have lost their lives since the onset of the conflict, with countless others facing lifelong physical and psychological trauma. Additionally, over 500 healthcare workers have been reported killed in the past nine months, as documented by various international aid organizations.

Dr. Yousaf’s reflections poignantly capture the increasingly dire circumstances of life in Gaza. On July 9, he wrote, “Every time I think it can’t get worse, it does.”