In a harrowing account, Dr Junaid Sultan, a vascular surgeon from Hull, has shared his experiences treating patients in the war-ravaged Gaza Strip. After witnessing unimaginable suffering during his volunteer work at the European Hospital in Rafah in April, Dr Sultan has now expressed his intention to return before Christmas.

During his time in Gaza, Dr Sultan treated hundreds of civilian patients, predominantly women and children, who had sustained bullet wounds, burns, and other severe injuries. Horrified by the conditions, he described Gaza as a "living hell" for its residents, who he believes are enduring unimaginable hardship and suffering worse than animals.

Accompanied by 14 other surgeons from the UK and the United States, Dr Sultan volunteered with the US non-profit organization FAJR Scientific, operating under the umbrella of the World Health Organization. Their objective was to provide medical treatment to those affected by the ongoing conflict and transport vital medical supplies to the area.

For Dr Sultan, the decision to visit Gaza stemmed from an emotional appeal by a colleague in Scarborough, whose Gazan father was tragically shot in the head. The urgency to help a fellow human being in desperate need of life-saving treatment compelled Dr Sultan to take action. Sadly, his colleague's father passed away just hours before receiving the much-needed care.

Recalling his experiences upon arriving in Gaza, Dr Sultan painted a grim picture. The war-torn region was plagued by a curfew after five o'clock, severe shortages of electricity and water supply, and constant surveillance from drones. The threat of bombs and gunfire was a pervasive reality, even in areas deemed safe. The surgeon detailed scenes of horrific injuries, including mutilated limbs, headless bodies, and patients suffering from maggots in their wounds and flesh-eating bacteria.

One particular case that deeply affected Dr Sultan involved a 12-year-old boy who arrived at the hospital with severe injuries alongside the lifeless body of his mother. The child, unaware of the severity of his own injuries, was in excruciating pain. The doctors, lacking painkillers, had to break the devastating news that both his legs were completely destroyed and would require amputation, possibly along with one hand. The child's heartbreaking response, expressing a wish to have died instead, left a lasting impact on Dr Sultan.

Working tirelessly in the hospital's A&E unit, Dr Sultan treated around 50 injured civilians per day, all facing life or limb-threatening conditions. However, the hospital itself was not spared from the destruction. Converted into a makeshift refugee camp, the hospital corridors were filled with tents, housing approximately 30,000 displaced people. This overcrowding severely impacted the hospital's ability to provide crucial clinical services and maintain cleanliness.

Dr Junaid Sultan's firsthand account of the suffering endured by the people of Gaza serves as a stark reminder of the ongoing humanitarian crisis in the region. His commitment to returning to provide vital medical assistance before Christmas reflects the pressing need for continued international support to alleviate the suffering of those affected by the conflict.

Warning: The descriptions shared by Dr Sultan in this article contain graphic and distressing content.