PART 2: SURGEON ON THE FRONTLINE: DR. WU YI-CHUN REFLECTS ON THE REALITY OF WORKING IN GAZA

By Wan Muhammad Aslah Wan Razali

Dr. Wu Yi-chun, a skilled Taiwanese plastic and reconstructive surgeon, volunteered with Doctors Without Borders (MSF) in Gaza for a month, where he confronted unimaginable challenges working in Nasser Hospital's trauma and burn unit in Khan Yunis. Part 2 delves into his reflections on the resilience of the Palestinians in Gaza and the emotional toll he had to bear upon his return.

KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 8 (Bernama) -- Dr Wu Yi-chun, a plastic surgeon from Taiwan, recently recounted his harrowing and eye-opening experience during his one-month stay in Gaza, volunteering under Doctors Without Borders (MSF) at the reopened Nasser Hospital, Khan Yunis, in Southern Gaza. 

His journey, marked by a stark contrast between the normalcy of life in Israel and the devastation in Gaza, highlights the resilience of the Palestinian people and the challenges faced by medical professionals in war zones.

Dr Wu's journey began in Amman, Jordan, where he and fellow MSF volunteers boarded a bus provided by the United Nations (UN). 

The group, accompanied by personnel from other NGOs, made the long drive toward the border between Israel and Gaza.

 "There were no stops along the way, except at the border between Gaza and Israel. We passed through Israel but didn’t stop; we went straight to the Gaza border," he told reporters in an interview recently.

The crossing was made via a functioning border in the south, primarily designated for transporting goods and cargo, rather than personnel. 

Originally, Rafah had been the main crossing point, but it was destroyed, forcing the convoy to use this route instead. 

"Israel was very normal. It was like Malaysia, with tall modern buildings, traffic, and people going about their daily lives," he said, describing the stark difference between the two regions.

Upon reaching the border, the scene became drastically different. A tall, imposing wall lined with barbed wire separated Israel from Gaza, with armed Israel Defence Forces (IDF) soldiers standing guard, rifles at the ready. 

"As soon as we crossed into Gaza, it felt like a completely different world." 

"The landscape was filled with sand and rubble. It was a war zone. We even saw a dead person lying on the road, and people just acted like it was normal," he said.

Recalling his accommodation experience, Dr Wu explained that MSF had a guest house for international staff located close, but not adjacent, to Nasser Hospital. 

The guest house was essentially a large house where many people stayed, and they had to share rooms with other MSF staff members. 

"It was a large house with concrete walls, which is a luxury in Gaza. Having walls around us, and most importantly, having electricity and water, was a significant comfort," he noted.

The IDF designated a very small area within Gaza as a humanitarian zone. However, this zone was not exempt from attacks by the Israelis. 

He mentioned that if the IDF planned to conduct bombings in this area, they would notify them to evacuate about an hour in advance. 

Although this did not occur at their guest house or the hospital during his stay, it happened very close by. 

As a result, they had to have evacuation plans in place in case the bombing area included the hospital or the guest house. Fortunately, such an evacuation was not necessary while he was there.

When asked about the number of surgeries he performed at Nasser Hospital, the 12-year experienced reconstruction surgeon explained that his surgical capacity was limited due to strict movement regulations imposed by the Israelis. 

"For shorter surgeries, I could perform about five a day. However, the situation in Gaza was unique." 

"The staff, who were Palestinian nationals, worked 24-hour shifts, which is not typical and quite dangerous, but it was necessary due to the overwhelming number of patients. Some days, they would even perform up to 10 surgeries," he said. 

"If I stayed in the hospital overnight to handle the mass casualties, I could manage around 10 or 11 surgeries. But if there was a longer procedure, we had to cancel some surgeries to make room. 

“This is why some patients had to wait extensively for treatment—there were just too many patients and not enough resources," he added.

When asked about the plight of the people of Gaza, having dealt with them every day, Dr Wu described the people of Gaza as very friendly and strong. 

He noted that they were extremely friendly to the MSF staff, showing their gratitude for the help they were receiving. 

They constantly checked on the staff, asking if they were hungry, if they were okay, and how they were doing, often engaging in conversations with the team. 

He found it hard to imagine that someone who had lost a loved one just the previous week could maintain such a demeanour, as they didn't vent their emotions or stress. 

He surmised that it must be extremely stressful for them, but their strength was evident.

"If I were to live in a temporary home, like a tent, without any electricity or water, I can't even imagine how I would manage. Not being able to take a shower in humid 36-degree weather and with limited food would be a challenge," he said. 

He explained that due to the harsh conditions, it would take a Palestinian two or three hours to walk a 20-minute distance to get to the hospital. 

He expressed uncertainty about whether he could be as happy and friendly as the Palestinian hospital staff if he were in their situation, as he was deeply impressed by their resilience and positive demeanour despite the challenging circumstances. 

"You can't tell from their appearance, because they joke around and laugh while working with us at the hospital," he said, emphasising how disciplined the Palestinians are in remaining calm and strong despite facing a mountain of hardships.

Despite the overwhelming number of patients, Dr Wu said he still managed to get enough hours of sleep every day as his day always ended at 3.00 pm. 

He explained that the Israelis had imposed strict movement regulations on MSF and other NGO staff. 

His workday would begin around 7.30 am and end at 3.00 pm at the hospital. 

"Because all the movements are regulated, very strictly. So everyone (MSF staff) has to be at a place at the same time. You can't really negotiate and say, 'Oh, give me 10 more minutes,' because everyone has to move together. 

“If I'm staying, then other MSF staff members have to stay with me. I can't stay at the hospital alone," he explained.

He mentioned that he was not familiar with the details of how the Israelis granted MSF staff members permission to move, so he could not elaborate on that process. 

However, he emphasised that they could not go anywhere without Israeli approval, as there were always drones and planes monitoring their movements.

After returning from his month-long volunteer stint in Gaza, Dr Wu shared the emotional toll that working in a warzone had on him. 

Upon his return to Taiwan, the first few days were filled with unsettling reminders of the contrast between his experiences in Gaza and the comfort of daily life.

"It was raining, and there were a lot of thunderstorms. I would be at home, hearing the thunder, and for a split second, I would remind myself that I’m in Taiwan, not in Gaza and that it wasn’t a bomb," he recalled. 

Though he was never afraid, this brief reaction revealed the deep imprint Gaza had left on him. 

"It’s like an automatic response, something you don't consciously prepare for," he said.

Beyond the startling sounds and reminders of war, he described an emotional response that lingered after his return: a deep sense of guilt. 

"There’s one emotion I think a lot of people feel after leaving Gaza—guilt. For instance, if you’re thirsty and buy a drink, and then you drink it and get too full to finish it, there’s this sense of guilt. 

“You think about the people in Gaza who don’t have access to clean water, let alone something as simple as a drink to quench their thirst," he explained.

Dr. Wu's account underscores the resilience and strength of the Palestinian people and the immense challenges faced by medical professionals working in war zones. 

His experience highlights the stark contrast between life in Israel and Gaza and serves as a poignant reminder of the ongoing humanitarian crisis in the region.

-- BERNAMA