The ongoing crisis in the Middle East, sparked by the Israel-Gaza conflict, has sent shockwaves throughout the region, affecting neighboring countries and communities far beyond the initial conflict zone.
In the city of Sidon in Lebanon’s South Governorate, staff and volunteers at the Palestine Red Crescent Society’s Al-Hamshari hospital have been preparing for worst-case scenarios, as bombings occur regularly right on their doorstep and Lebanon’s southern region becomes increasingly affected by the escalation of hostilities.
Al-Hamshari is one of two Palestine Red Crescent hospitals in south Lebanon, serving Palestinian refugees and people of all nationalities. It’s also the largest of all five PRCS hospitals in Lebanon, meaning it is a crucial healthcare facility, especially in times of conflict, when its services are needed the most.
This volatile environment has compelled the Palestine Red Crescent Society in Lebanon to brace for a surge in need, mobilizing resources and being on full alert to respond to the unfolding crisis.
“We have more than 300 volunteers and staff members who have been receiving trainings as part of our emergency plan,” says Dr. Ziad El Ainen, Director of Emergency and Ambulance service in the Palestine Red Crescent’s Lebanon branch.
A significant part of that training has been done with the Lebanese Red Cross, which also has significant experience responding to mass casualty events. “[Hospital personnel] have been well trained by the Lebanese Red Cross to respond effectively in times of conflict,” El Ainen says.
To bolster its capacity to respond effectively to the escalating conflict, PRCS’s Al-Hamshari hospital initiated a comprehensive training program, which encompassed a range of essential skills, including basic life support, advanced cardiac life support, emergency echocardiography, mass casualty triage, and advanced first aid techniques. These trainings equipped the hospital's personnel with the knowledge and skills necessary to mitigate the impact of conflict-related injuries and ensure timely and appropriate medical intervention.
One person who has benefited from these trainings and is geared up to serve his people, especially during this conflict, is 58-year-old Hossam Sabha, a first responder who has been with the Palestine Red Crescent Society in Lebanon for almost 40 years.
“As the Emergency Medical Services unit in the Palestine Red Crescent Society in Lebanon, we have taken all necessary precautions and steps to respond to any emergency,” Hossam says.
“We’ve completed our trainings, and we are ready to mobilize at any time. We have an emergency plan in place for the South and Beirut, and all our teams are on stand-by. We are not afraid."
22-year-old Saja volunteers at Al-Hamshari hospital and is studying to become a nurse.
Photo: Joe Baaklini/IFRC
It’s not just Hossam who’s driven by a sense of humanity. His own daughter, Saja, has inherited her father’s fearlessness. The conflict will not stop her from delivering life-saving services, she says.
“I’m not afraid at all. I come to the hospital every day because I want to help other people, including my colleagues,” says 22-year-old Saja, who volunteers at Al-Hamshari hospital and is studying to become a nurse. Volunteering, she reckons, is unlike anything she’s experienced.
“When you volunteer, you’re exposed to so many people, you get to see what’s happening in the real world. There’s nothing quite like the look of gratitude and relief on a person’s face after you have provided them with the help that they need.”
There is no shame in feeling afraid, however, and hospital volunteers and staff are also trained to support each other in coping with their emotional reactions to the events unfolding around them. Saja works closely with 20-year-old Nagham Chanaa – the youngest intern in Al-Hamshari hospital – who's pursuing her dream of becoming a doctor.
20-year-old Nagham Chanaa – the youngest intern in Al-Hamshari hospital – is pursuing her dream of becoming a doctor.
Photo: Joe Baaklini/IFRC
Despite the stressful nature of her job and the country’s turbulent situation, Nagham somehow manages to smile through it all.
“I’m someone who’s very anxious, actually,” she says. “I felt very afraid when I heard an explosion a few days ago — which turned out to be fake air raids — but everyone at the hospital came to me and tried to comfort me. I get a lot of mental support from my colleagues here. We support each other, and we convey that support to our patients as well.”
Proudly wearing his Palestine Red Crescent emergency medical services uniform, 19-year-old Ahmad Marwan El Issa stands in front of an ambulance, ready to respond at any time.
Photo: Joe Baaklini/IFRC
While medical professionals like Nagham and Saja are essential in providing emergency care, anyone can contribute to their community during times of need. All it takes is a caring heart and a willingness to volunteer.
19-year-old Ahmad Marwan El Issa, who’s pursuing a Mechanical Engineering degree, is a prime example of that. He volunteers for the Palestine Red Crescent Society in Lebanon as an Emergency Medical Technician, and he does so knowing the risks involved.
“The situation is scary because of its unpredictability,” he says. “We don’t know when an airstrike will hit and where it will hit, but we are ready to serve those in need, no matter what.”
