Gaza and Israel, MSF: «Raid at all hours. The situation is very serious “

The morning when Gino Roberto Manciati, medical director of Doctors Without Borders in Gaza, we answer the phone is the one after a night of bombing. Those who hit the clinic a few hours earlier where he works together with the medical staff that provides treatments for trauma and burns. The sterilization room is unusable, while the appearance area has been completely damaged. There are no injuries in the clinic, but some people were killed in the bombing.

“The situation is very worrying,” he explains over the phone Gian Roberto Manciati in the few minutes available, underlining the concern for the population and for what will be the next few days if even clinics and hospitals are no longer safe places.

The bombings between Israel and Gaza have continued for a week. According to reports from the Ministry of Health of the Strip, the toll of Israeli attacks on Gaza has risen to 188 dead, including 55 minors, while the injured are 1,230. “I am following with great concern what is happening in the Holy Land, in these days violent armed clashes between the Gaza Strip and Israel have taken over and are likely to degenerate into a spiral of death and destruction,” he said. Pope francesco, during the homily in St. Peter’s Square. “Numerous people were injured, and many innocent people died. Among them there are also children, and this is terrible, it is unacceptable, their death is a sign that we do not want to build the future, but we want to destroy it ».

How is the situation at the moment?
“During the night and until this morning we have received many, too many, cases of wounded, civilians, women and children. Even for this latest explosion it is more difficult to get to the hospital. We mainly do orthopedic emergency surgery and plastic surgery to heal wounds in the skin. All our staff work non-stop, 24 hours a day. It’s too much for everyone. For us, too”.

How do you imagine the next few days?
“I don’t think this conflict will be resolved any time soon. There are too many actions that both sides are taking against each other. I don’t think it will be resolved briefly. “

Are the raids continuing even now?
«Yes, without respite. They are there at all hours: morning, evening and especially at night, when they are scariest. I am very worried for the population, for civilians, like all of us, for what is happening again with this conflict ».

Does the aid arrive?
“It is possible that they will arrive but at the moment it is more difficult to enter Gaza as well as to leave it. We sent a team to Gaza to help our doctors but it was not possible to get out of Gaza. We too cannot receive any. The borders are closed because of the war ».

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