Le Républicain Lorrain recently published an article detailing the experience of Professor Raphaël Pitti, a humanitarian doctor in Gaza. Through this interview, the newspaper sheds light on the dramatic situation in hospitals and the daily life of the civilian population.
Two missions in Gaza in 2024
The journalist asked Professor Raphaël Pitti about his daily challenges during his two missions to Gaza in 2024.
Professor Pitti explained that in January 2024, he worked for two weeks at the European Hospital of Gaza, located near Rafah. He was part of a team of seven doctors, and they witnessed a humanitarian catastrophe, with one and a half million displaced people in Rafah. Some were living inside the hospital. The conditions were dire, as nothing had been prepared to accommodate them. The residents had to build makeshift shelters using tarps and rugs.
He emphasized that this situation made daily life extremely difficult for the displaced populations.
The situation inside the European Hospital
The journalist asked about the situation inside the European Hospital.
Professor Pitti explained that the emergency room was constantly full, tasked with addressing both the primary healthcare needs of the displaced populations and the polytrauma cases resulting from the bombings.
He added that, due to a lack of space, the most severely injured patients were lying on the floor, and all medical care was being provided on the ground. He also noted that children were living inside the hospital and, out of curiosity, were watching what was happening, despite the violence of the situations.
He stated that this situation highlighted the complete collapse of the healthcare system in Gaza.
The opening of an emergency orphanage
The journalist sought to understand how the orphanage project in Gaza came about.
Professor Pitti explained that from March 2024, no more food was entering the Gaza Strip, and famine began to set in. The residents had lost all sense of solidarity and were fighting for food. They had become completely dehumanized.
He clarified that, in this context, they encountered children who were alone and isolated, sometimes with only pots to try and feed themselves. These children were the sole survivors of their families. He added that his team rented a villa and went into the streets to collect these children. Thirty-five children were taken to safety. He affirmed that this urgent care was essential for their survival.
The future of these children
The journalist asked what would become of these children.
Professor Pitti responded that the hope was for a ceasefire to be established and for the authorities to organize an orphanage.
He added that his team was working with a lawyer, in coordination with the Red Cross and the WHO, to locate family members who might have fled to the West Bank or elsewhere.
He emphasized that these efforts were crucial to ensuring a secure future for these children.
Structuring humanitarian projects
The journalist also wanted to know what other projects had been implemented to assist the population of Gaza.
Professor Pitti explained that, in collaboration with Médecins du Monde and Caritas Jerusalem, four primary healthcare centers had been established.
He added that access to clean drinking water was also a critical issue, and that currently, 600,000 liters of potable water were being distributed every month.
He concluded that these actions aimed to provide concrete and sustainable support to the population of Gaza, going beyond just immediate medical aid.