Sabha and Khan were stationed in a hospital that was under significant strain, with more than 10,000 patients housed in a facility designed for 200 people. The limited bathroom facilities, with one bathroom for every 200 to 300 people, caused challenges for both patients and staff. Doctors had to improvise emergency room settings due to the overwhelming number of patients, treating them on the ground because there were no beds available.
Despite fasting for Ramadan, Sabha saw 20 to 30 patients daily and survived on minimal sleep and nutrition. The hospital’s resources were stretched thin due to Gaza’s heightened siege, which led to scarce food, water, and medical supplies. Khan explained that they had to be creative due to the limited medications and instruments available. In some cases, they had to use the wrong implants to fix fractures because it was all that was available.
Gaza’s crumbling infrastructure added to the health crisis, with constant bombings leaving buildings unstable and sanitation facilities non-existent. The lack of sanitation bred mosquitoes, and the piling garbage created an unpleasant smell throughout the area. Despite these challenges, Sabha and Khan worked tirelessly to provide care for the patients in need.