Nurse Who Volunteered in Gaza Shares What She Experienced
Emily Callahan, an American nurse working with Doctors Without Borders, was recently evacuated from Gaza after violence escalated in the region. In an interview with CNN's Anderson Cooper, Callahan described the dire situation in Gaza where medical staff are risking their lives to treat the injured.
"My heart is in Gaza, it will stay in Gaza," said Callahan.
Staying Behind to Save Lives
Before evacuating, Callahan's colleagues told her 'We're going to die saving as many people as we can.' According to Callahan, doctors and nurses in Gaza are choosing to remain in the conflict zone to provide urgently needed medical care, despite the dangers. "The doctors and nurses I worked with in Gaza are some of the bravest people I have ever met," said Callahan.
"I'm finding a hard time finding joy in any of this because me being safe, it the result of having to leave people behind," said Callahan.
Treating Patients Amid Chaos
Callahan shared details of the immense challenges of providing care during the conflict. "We could hear shelling and airstrikes outside while performing emergency surgeries. At times, the hospital shook from nearby impacts," said Callahan.
A Plea to Raise Awareness
After evacuating to safety, Callahan shared her experience to raise awareness about the crisis in Gaza. "I want people to know what's really happening on the ground. Medical workers and civilians are losing their lives due to shortages of basic supplies and the inability to leave for treatment," said Callahan.
Callahan recalled the assistance from the national staff who didn’t leave their side, “without the help from national staff we would have died within a week," said Callahan.
If you are interested in volunteering with Doctors Without Borders, find more information here.
