KUALA LUMPUR: Nearly half of the patients treated at Nasser Hospital in Gaza were minors, said Dr Wu Yi Chun, a doctor with Doctors Without Borders, also known as Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF).
The 42-year-old Taiwanese plastic surgeon described the injuries he encountered as far more severe than anything he had seen in non-war zones.
Despite receiving extensive briefings from MSF, he was still shocked by the realities on the ground.
"Most of the patients have very severe injuries, such as those resulting from blasts and explosions… with numerous open fractures, amputated limbs, severe soft tissue damage and large areas of burns on the face, torso and limbs.
"Because the number of patients far exceeds what the hospital can handle, those with minor injuries have to go home and take care of their wounds themselves," Dr Wu told the media in an interview today.
Dr Wu, who worked at Nasser Hospital in southern Gaza from July to August this year, said that even with reconstructive surgery, it was impossible for many patients to make a full recovery due to the severity of injuries.
"The injury is very severe if you have an open fracture. Normally, we would use what we call an internal fixation, which means a metal plate on the bone inside the body.
"But due to poor hygiene, we can only use external fixations. That means the metal plate is outside the body. So, the fixation is not very stable, and it is minimal."
The reconstruction surgery in this situation, he said, would only serve to cover the wound.
This, he said, is because modern surgical techniques could not be applied to many patients due to a lack of facilities and equipment.
"I've seen a lot of wounds with maggots inside, because the flies just go around and lay eggs in the wounds.
"Even after the wounds heal, and even if it heals completely, there will still be a lot of scarring, poor function of the limbs, disfigurement and the bone may not heal at the proper angle."
Dr Wu also shared a heartbreaking experience where, during surgery, a male nurse received a call informing him that his young son had been killed in a bombing.
"After speaking anxiously on the phone, he suddenly barged out of the room (operation theatre), and someone took his place.
"At that moment, I didn't know what had happened, so I continued with the surgery. After finishing, I left the operating theatre and saw him crying on the floor.
"The other staff informed me that the call was to inform that his his 4- or 5-year-old son had been killed.
"It was incredibly sad to witness, and it deeply affected all of us. These things happen constantly in Gaza. You don't get used to it, but they happen all the time," he said.
THE SOUND OF BOMBS
The constant sound of bombings, drones and helicopters 24 hours a day was another aspect Dr Wu found difficult to adjust to.
"You can't actually get used to it because you jump every time there's a bomb. Sometimes it's very close; close enough that the windows rattle and your hair gets blown by the wind.
"Even in the place where we stayed, at the hospital and on the roads, you hear these sounds all the time."
He said at night, the skies light up due to bombardment and during the day, he can hear humming noises.
TRAUMA UPON RETURNING HOME
After returning to Taiwan, Dr Wu struggled with a sense of guilt, especially when he encountered the comforts of daily life.
Back home, his mind would associate loud sounds and flashes of light such as lightning and thunder to the bombing he experienced in Gaza.
"When I was at home and it was raining, there would be lightning and thunder.
"I'd look out the window, and it would take me a second or two to remind myself, that that was not a bomb. It wasn't that I was afraid, but it would take a moment to adjust.
"For example, if you're thirsty, you can buy a drink, and if you're too full, you can leave the rest.
"But knowing that people in Gaza are struggling with basic needs, it feels strange to waste something so simple," he said.
GOING TO GAZA AGAIN
Dr Wu is now preparing for his second mission, planned for early next year.
He is currently expanding his skills in orthopaedics to meet the additional needs of his patients.
For his mental preparation, he said now that he knows what the situation on the ground is like, he will be better prepared for what to expect during his second mission.
"Before going to my first mission, I only told my mother I was going for a week and assured her that Gaza was safe. She was worried but it is normal for mothers to feel that way," he said.
For his second mission, he said wasn't really going to tell his mother before everything was finalised.
However, his mother found out after reading in the media in Taiwan that Dr Wu was leaving for Gaza again next year.