- Au Yiu-kai, who volunteered at the European Gaza Hospital for six weeks, says it was his most profound of eight experiences working in conflict zones
- He shared that most severe burn victims were from vulnerable groups; the Red Cross presence was a sense of security for patients
Dr Au Yiu-kai, a medical volunteer of the Hong Kong Red Cross, recently traveled to the Gaza Strip to provide emergency medical support for six weeks. Photo: May TseA local Hong Kong doctor, Au Yiu-kai, spent a few weeks volunteering at a hospital in the southern Gaza Strip. He was sleeping in the corridor of a hospital dormitory when he heard an explosion about 150 metres away.
It was his eighth time working in a war zone and his latest experience was the most profound one, the 65-year-old said, as he shared insights from his six-week trip with the press.
Returning to Hong Kong last week, Au said he hoped to bring news back and send messages to the city that it could continue to be an international centre to extend its care for global society.
“At the very least, it is essential to show concern,” said Au, who has committed his time to various global emergency medical operations in conflict and disaster-stricken areas since 2002.
The intensified armed conflict in Israel and the Gaza Strip since early October last year has resulted in more than 28,000 deaths. At least 75 per cent of the people in Gaza have been forced to leave their homes.
“The field hospital resembles a refugee camp,” he said, adding that some patients were transferred from the northern Gaza Strip, which had suffered much of the damage. Relatives of the patients had taken shelter everywhere in the hospital, including in the staircases and corridors.
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“The scale and impact of this artillery fire are more severe than previous conflicts,” he said.
Serving at the European Gaza Hospital, Au noted that many of the most severe burn victims were from vulnerable groups, particularly children and the elderly.
He witnessed the extreme hardship of civilians, including brothers who lost their parents in the war, with half of the 13-year-old’s body seriously burned and the five-year-old needing a limb amputation to save his life. Another elderly woman suffered burns to more than 30 per cent of her body.
Au and a team of about 12 medical volunteers deployed by the International Committee of the Red Cross attended to 70 to 80 patients, mainly those who required long-term treatment rather than the emergency patients that local medical staff took care of.
The biggest difficulty was the scarcity of resources, Au said, so he and his medical colleagues were extremely careful about using what was available when treating patients.
On the first day of his arrival, three trucks of supplies were waiting to enter the rescue area, and they were still waiting to gain access on the day he left.
“We never knew when the supplies would arrive,” he said.
Less than 30 per cent of the hospitals were functioning in Gaza, he estimated, adding that the number of ones able to function dropped as they were constantly under attack.
Au also considered this trip to be the most emotional one.
Despite the ongoing warfare outside, many patients, their families and healthcare workers feel a sense of security under the shelter of the hospital, he said.
“The presence of us representing the Red Cross on-site further helps boost their security,” he said.
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He was impressed that many people prayed at the hospital at noon on Fridays.
“In a sorrowful environment, I witnessed the trauma and profound relationships within families, together with the religious faith and sincerity,” he said.
“Not a single patient was left without someone caring for them. This mutual support between individuals helps us navigate through difficult times together.”
He said while 10 to 20 per cent of the patients would attempt to request a medical referral from a doctor to go abroad, most of the locals would prefer to stay to reconstruct their homeland.
“I can sense their profound helplessness and uncertainty about the future,” he said. “There is hope, but they are unsure when it can become a reality.”
Despite risking his own safety to help in various war zones over the years, Au said he never considered himself a hero.
“From the very beginning of my voluntary career, I don’t consider myself great or a hero, and I know I can’t accomplish everything or save everyone,” he said.