Health Clinic in Gaza Prepare for Great March of Return

Gaza, MINA – Medical clinic managed by Doctors Without Borders (MSF) in Gaza is preparing for an emergency in commemoration of the Great March of Return. In its statement, MSF has increased capacity of beds and prepared the worst case scenario.

MSF expressed its concern for thousands of people who were injured in last year’s Great March of Return commemoration. Most of the patients suffered serious injuries in the legs due to shots or bombs.

“This is not a simple wound that can be easily sewn. The foot piece has broken and the bones in it have been destroyed,” MSF said in a statement, reported by Al-Jazeera, Saturday.

MSF stated that currently Gaza does not have capacity to care for all its patients and overwhelmed. MSF made every effort to care for wounded Palestinians due to last year’s Great March of Return celebration. But because of limitations, not all patients can be treated.

A 22-year-old young man, Imad Hassan Khalifa, was in a medical clinic in Gaza with a pair of crutches beside him. He recalled the reason for participating in last year’s Great March of Return action.

“I participated in all the demonstrations. Life, economic conditions, and frustrated circumstances prompted me along with many other young people to take part in any protest results. My foot was shot by bullets with high explosive power,” Khalifa said.

Khalifa said that his foot was shot in a protest that took place in October 2018. After that he went to Egypt to get medical treatment. However, a doctor in Egypt told Khalifa that his recovery would take a long time.

Khalifa is currently at the MSF clinic in Gaza for physiotherapy and undergoing treatment for injuries to her legs. Khalifa said the clinic had become a gathering place for those injured in the protest.

“We always entertain one another, because we share suffering and injuries. We always sit together, laugh, and jokingly mock our fate while waiting their turn to receive treatment,” Khalifa said.

It is known, in March 2018, Palestinians in Gaza participated in the action titled Great March of Return. They demanded that Israel restore the land it occupied after the Arab-Israeli War in 1984 to Palestinian refugees. (R/Sj/R04)

Mi’raj News Agency (MINA)