Karachi-born doctor in Gaza hails Palestinians’ unmatched resilience

Pakistani-American Dr Syed Irfan Ali, currently serving at Al-Ahli Hospital in Gaza, described the situation in the besieged enclave as one of acute suffering, with Palestinians showing resilience unlike anything he has ever witnessed.

He warned that the hunger crisis in Gaza has reached an alarming level and urged people worldwide to raise their voices to end the plight of innocent civilians.

Born in Karachi, Dr Irfan earned his MBBS degree from Allama Iqbal Medical College in Lahore before receiving advanced training in anesthesia and pain management at Harvard University in the United States.

He has participated in humanitarian missions across the globe, including in Cameroon, Belize, various African nations, and Pakistan.

This marks his third visit to Gaza, though he was previously denied entry twice at the border.

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In an interview with the Independent Urdu from Al-Ahli Hospital, Dr Irfan said that the humanitarian conditions in Gaza are so dire that “everyone here is eligible for Zakat, whether they are orthopedic surgeons or anesthesiologists, because no one has a home. Everyone is living in tents.”

“There is no water, no electricity, no internet, no bathrooms. If someone manages to take a bath once, it is a blessing,” he said.

Highlighting the shortage of food and basic necessities, Dr Irfan revealed that a kilogram of sugar costs around 200 US dollars. “Coffee sells for 400 dollars per kilo,” he added.

Despite being bombed, Al-Ahli Hospital continues to operate but is under extreme strain. “The hospital has fewer than 100 beds, yet we have about 500 to 600 inpatients, meaning people who have found a corner to lie down with just a pillow or blanket,” he explained.

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“Every two minutes, there is the sound of a tank shell or an Apache helicopter,” he said.

"If Pakistanis had endured even five percent of their suffering, we would have been consumed by complaints. Yet, the people of Gaza possess a faith of a different kind. Anyone who visits is compelled to return, for they are truly a chosen people of God," the Independent Urdu quoted Dr Irfan as saying. 

Appealing to the Pakistani public, Dr Irfan urged them to place the needs of the Palestinian people above their own. “Help as much as you can, give them more priority than your own family,” he said.