Palestinian Nurse Transforms His Store into a Clinic to Help Rafah’s Displaced
(AWP) - Zaki Shahin, an elderly Palestinian nurse, turned his store, which was his sole source of income, into a small clinic to provide first aid to internally-displaced persons (IDPs) in the city of Rafah, southern Gaza Strip.
Hundreds of thousands of Palestinians have been displaced from northern to southern Gaza, specifically to the city of Rafah, in search of a safe haven from the ongoing Israeli war on the strip which has entered its fourth month.
This massive displacement has put immense pressure on the already limited hospitals in Rafah which suffer from a shortage of medical staff and supplies, according to the Palestinian health ministry.
Shahin, who holds a Master’s degree in nursing with over 30 years of experience, decided to offer help to wounded IDPs with his limited resources.
He said, “The tents in Rafah city are endless and beyond measure. Around 70 square kilometres are filled with tents in the midst of the cold and rain. I tried to set up a medical point to serve and help the people in this area.”
He added, “We contacted the UN Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) and the officials there provided me with some first-aid supplies, medication and surgical cotton. We also reached out to the health ministry and obtained some simple provisions. We are working to serve the people.”
Shahin pointed out that most of the cases he handles are of people with injuries and varying degrees of burns, adding that he also performs some minor surgeries that do not require a hospital visit.