MASS CASUALTY INCIDENT in Al Mawasi Clinic, Southern Gaza

Since his shift started in MSF-run Al Mawasi Primary Healthcare Center at 8 am, MSF surgeon Dr Mohamed Shaath has been hearing intensified bombings near the facility.

(0:26) Since the beginning of my shift [at 8am], (0:30) there were sounds of bombs and explosions, (0:34) there was a lot of confusion.

(0:37) There was little time between each strike. (0:39) The problem started at the beginning of the shift. (0:42) In the afternoon, it increased a little bit.

(0:45) Even the sound of the planes increased.

(0:47) At about 7 or 8 o'clock [in the morning], we were expecting a normal situation. (0:51) In the clinic, there were three cases.

(0:54) One was tired and the other had a fever. (0:57) We were dealing with them normally. (0:59) Suddenly, there was a loud sound.

(1:02) There were a lot of bombs.

(1:11) We immediately switched to emergency mode. (1:15) We took the patients [that were in the clinic] out [of the emergency room]. (1:16) They were all in a stable condition.

(1:21) We took them out. (1:23) People immediately came to us. (1:25) The injured started to arrive.

(1:26) First received seven injuries. (1:31) Two of them were in life-threatening conditions. (1:34) we dealt with them immediately.

(1:36) We transferred them with the ambulances. (1:38) There were five cases in between danger and stable. (1:42) We immediately took care of them.

(1:43) Of course, we were dealing with them as a team. (1:47) We divided the roles. (1:48) There was a doctor, a nurse, and a hygienist.

(1:51) All of them were present. (1:52) All of them did their parts (1:54) We received two cases.

(1:57) Two of them were dead. (2:00) The first case was a two-year-old child. (2:05) The second case was a young man in his thirties.

(2:09) Two of them were dead. (2:09) There were no signs of life. (2:14) The rest of the patients were treated immediately.

(2:16) They were taken to the hospital. (2:19) Between the hospital in Nasser and the UK-Med Field hospital (2:25) The situation was very bad.

(2:27) There was a state of anxiety for everyone present. (2:30) The bombing was so close to us. (2:33) The sound was very loud.

(2:34) The shrapnel were visible (2:36) Flying all around (2:37) There was smoke.

(2:38) Suddenly the whole area shifted (2:43) we could not afford to be surprised (2:47) We immediately activated our emergency mode.

(2:50) We did not wait to feel anxious (2:53) There was a lot of fear, for sure. (2:56) It was visible on all our colleague's faces.

(2:57) We immediately got up (3:00) We were ready to deal with the situation. (3:01) This is what happened.

(3:04) All the injuries that were in the area. (3:06) They came to us. (3:07) Because we are the first medical point, and closest to the bombing.

(3:10) We were right next to the place. (3:12) that got targeted. (3:14) We had to handle the situation.

(3:15) Even the place [that was struck]. (3:16) If you saw how it looked. (3:19) The blood was on the ground.

(3:22) The smoke. (3:24) The smell. (3:25) Honestly.

(3:25) I can't describe the scene. (3:31) The injuries. (3:33) Most of them were not easy.

(3:35) Between the stomach. (3:36) The head. (3:37) The chest.

(3:38) We needed to intervene immediately. (3:43) We transferred the patients. (3:44) We are now recovering.

(3:46) The team is now starting to realize what has just happened (3:48) we are just beginning to realize. (3:51) what happened.

(3:52) In the end. (3:53) It was our duty to provide urgent care (3:56) But now.

(3:57) The team is now thinking about what happened (4:00) and remembering the moment of the bombing. (4:02) really.

(4:04) They [the team] is in a state of shock. (4:05) The distance between them [the clinic and the site of the attack]. (4:07) God forbid something happens to them.

(4:09) There were only a few meters [300] between us (4:12) and the bombing. (4:15) Thank God.