Hong Kong doctor recalls horror and hope while working at Palestinian hospital amid war

Difficulty: Challenger (Level 2)

Au Yiu-kai is a local Hong Kong doctor who has volunteered in war zones eight times. During his most recent trip, the 65-year-old was working at a hospital in the southern Gaza Strip.

More than 28,000 Palestinians in Gaza have been killed since October. At least 75 per cent of people there have been forced to leave their homes with nowhere to go.

When Au returned to Hong Kong from Gaza, he said that this war was more severe than past conflicts. “It is essential to show concern,” he said.

Au served at the European Gaza Hospital. He was with a team of about 12 medical volunteers and helped 70 to 80 patients. Most of them needed long-term treatment, but the medical team struggled to get enough resources to help them.

He said that many of the patients – mostly children and elderly – were burn victims.

He estimated that less than 30 per cent of Gaza’s hospitals were functioning, and these were constantly under attack from Israel.

“I can sense their profound helplessness,” he said. “There is hope, but they are unsure when it can become a reality.”

Quiz time

1. Where did Au most recently volunteer?

2. How many Palestinians have died since October?

3. What is the likely reason that the medical team struggled to get resources?

4. Why are there so few hospitals in Gaza to help people?

5. Why do you think Au says people “are unsure when it can become a reality”?

Many Palestinians, who have been forced to leave their homes by Israel’s attack on Gaza, take shelter at the European Gaza Hospital. Photo: AP

Suggested answers

1. at the European Gaza Hospital in the southern Gaza Strip

2. more than 28,000

3. They likely struggled to get resources because of the attacks and fighting.

4. Gaza’s hospitals are constantly under attack from Israel.

5. It is probably because so many people have been forced to leave their homes with nowhere to go.