Swansea doctor's 'helpless' wait to hear from family in Gaza

Swansea doctor's 'helpless' wait to hear from family in Gaza

Dr Ahmed Sabra, a cardiologist living in Swansea, is facing a heartbreaking situation as he waits to receive news from his elderly father and sister in the war-torn region of Gaza. The doctor has not been able to communicate with his family for almost two weeks, with his sister revealing the challenges they are facing in obtaining medicine for her daughter, who has type 1 diabetes. The United Nations has reported a severe famine and widespread starvation in Gaza, attributing the crisis to Israel’s control over the entry of essential supplies into the territory.

Israeli foreign minister Gideon Saar acknowledged the difficult conditions in Gaza but refuted claims that Israel is deliberately starving the population, shifting the blame to Hamas for the current situation. The UN documented at least 63 deaths related to malnutrition in July, highlighting the dire consequences of the ongoing crisis in the region. Dr Sabra, who was born in Gaza but now resides in Swansea, expressed deep concern for his father’s deteriorating health, revealing that he has lost a significant amount of weight and is struggling to find adequate food and clean water.

Communicating with his family through unreliable WhatsApp connections, Dr Sabra described the anxiety of waiting for messages due to poor internet coverage and frequent blackouts in Gaza. His sister shared distressing accounts of her daughter’s health struggles, including the difficulty of finding insulin and the high cost of basic provisions like flour. Dr Sabra’s personal experience of being stranded in Gaza during the recent conflict underscores the profound impact of the crisis on families torn apart and communities facing extreme hardships.

Despite the Israeli government’s denial of deliberate starvation tactics and allegations of aid theft by Hamas, the humanitarian situation in Gaza remains dire. Dr Sabra’s emotional plea for help for his family reflects the urgent need for international intervention to address the escalating humanitarian crisis in the region. As the world grapples with the devastating toll of the conflict on innocent civilians, Dr Sabra’s poignant story serves as a stark reminder of the human cost of political turmoil and the urgent need for compassion and solidarity in the face of adversity

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