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Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) surgeon Paul McMaster is just back from Syria where he treated the wounded in an operating theatre set up in a cave and then a farm. He writes:
I FLEW INTO Turkey, and then we went up to the low mountains near the border, where we were picked up by a guide who took us through the forests and hills and into Syria. Médecins Sans Frontières/Doctors Without Borders (MSF) has four surgical teams working in the conflict zone in the northwest of Syria. Our team was working in a cave. We went in through a very small entrance. Inside, there was an inflatable operating tent and six emergency beds.
Everything took place in that area, and it was often hectic and difficult for people to move around. Still, it was remarkable to have created a sterile environment, with all the right surgical equipment, in what was essentially a dusty chalk cave. We were staying 15 minutes away in a very small village. Most of us were sleeping on the floor in the basement room of the mosque. The villagers were happy for us to be there. Every day a lady in the village cooked a whole lot of flat bread, so we lived on that, and beans.
Quite a lot of the population had left the area for refugee camps on the other side of the border with Turkey. But there are still significant numbers of older people, women and children remaining, and these are the areas that are being rocketed and bombed from helicopters.
Helicopter gunships
The helicopters travel around slowly and hover over towns before dropping large bombs, and these things cascade down and cause an enormous blast and destroy buildings. The bombing of the towns and villages was happening every day. When they explode in the mountains, the bombs create enormous explosions of sound which reverberate through the hills and are clearly very frightening for people. On our last morning in the cave, several landed within a couple of hundred metres of us, shaking the cave and bringing down dust. You didn’t quite know whether you were better off outside or inside. It’s very unsettling for everybody, especially for wounded patients and children.
In our team there was a surgeon, an anaesthetist, an emergency nurse, two doctors, a Syrian nurse in her early 30s, who was just inspirational – never tired, always organised, always smiling – and about 11 young women from the villages who we were slowly training to do basic nursing.
Civilian patients
The majority of our patients were civilians – old people, women, children, babies. Many had been wounded in bombings and had shrapnel injuries. Sometimes the injuries weren’t physically serious, but emotionally and psychologically they were very damaging indeed.
One night we were called in and there were two distraught women with three screaming babies. Their house had been literally demolished by a bomb, and these children had shrapnel wounds to their faces – the wounds were not life threatening, but they were in great distress and anguish. Another night a man in his late 30s was brought in by a very excitable crowd of fighters. He’d been shot through his chest, we had very limited blood supplies and his condition was so unstable that I doubted he’d make it through the night. But he pulled through, and the determination he showed was quite remarkable.
I remember another man who came in with severe shrapnel wounds to his leg. The blast had gone through his leg and damaged the main nerve, but not the main blood vessel. He had lost two or three of his family in the blast. We operated on him, but afterwards he lost all motivation to get better – he’d lost his home, he’d lost many of his family, and he faced a potentially crippling injury. It’s really very difficult for people. Over the last five or six weeks, we did about 100 operations and treated many more casualties. We also saw diabetics who had run out of medication, children with asthma, women who needed caesarean sections.
No access to healthcare
These people have had no access to effective healthcare for over a year. Some people might be able to make it over the mountains to Turkey to get treatment, but for many that’s just not an option. When you’re faced with casualties, the surgery is fairly straightforward. You do what’s called damage limitation surgery to stop haemorrhages and deal with damaged internal organs. The difficulty came when we moved to the reconstructive phase – things like physiotherapy and rehabilitation and more complex orthopaedics – this was work we just couldn’t do in the cave.
You can get overwhelmed. When it became fairly clear that medically we were struggling to cope with the patients in the cave, we closed it and transferred our patients and the team to a new location. It was a farm – so not a great upgrade.
The new hospital was a long, open building, and in the space of just four or five days, the logisticians managed to create an inflatable operating theatre, an emergency triage area, a sterilisation unit, an outpatient consulting area, and an inpatient and recovery area – it was a staggering achievement. It wasn’t perfect, it still looked a bit like a farm, but it created much more space to treat casualties. We moved half the patients on Thursday and the rest on Friday, and by Saturday we were operating in the new location.
Danger from above
I’ve worked in many difficult places with MSF – war zones like Sri Lanka, Ivory Coast and Somalia – but while in those countries it was dangerous on the ground, in Syria the danger always comes from the air. It’s a much more oppressive type of danger, having a helicopter hovering in the sky above you. Many of the towns are like ghost towns, with the buildings blasted or destroyed. There’s a hopeless, desperate air about the place. Most people are living in cellars. They’ve had no electricity for eight or nine months.
It’s very bleak indeed and winter is beginning now. I think people are really going to struggle, and the most vulnerable will struggle most. For the civilian population, trying to light little fires in their basements, it’s going to be a very long, hard, cold, dangerous winter.
(Via MSF)
The MSF Ireland office was set up in 2006, after several MSF offices abroad noticed a rising number of applications from skilled, prospective Irish volunteers, from both medical and non-medical backgrounds. Find out more here.
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The people of Cambodia will celebrate tonight.
@David: absolutely. needless bloodshed. The Killing fields is a wonderfully sad movie too
@Sean oSuilleabhain: Great film. I would also recommend the book “Sideshow”.
@Sean oSuilleabhain: He didn’t start the Killing Fields..the communists did that all by themselves. In fact he helped remove Pol Pot. Just stating a fact!
@Deirdre Moffat: It was the Vietnamese that removed Pol Pot.
You know, those communists.
@Deirdre Moffat: It was his illegal, under international law, bombing campaign – 3 million tons of ordnance dropped and up to a million estimated to be killed, coupled with the nefarious actions of the CIA that led to the fall of a completely peaceful and stable regime in Cambodia and the installation of a “US friendly” leader. The ousted Sihanouk called on the country’s rural masses to support his coalition government in exile, and as a result the previously rag tag Khmer Rouge gained popularity with the rural population, and eventually power. Kissinger’s fingerprints are all over the killing fields, it takes serious revision on your part to see it differently. His unexploded cluster bombs still maim farmers and their family’s to this day.
@Deirdre Moffat: He did, albeit not directly intentional as is always the case with US foreign policies(they tend to have unexpected outcome).
His illegal bombings were directly responsible for the mass recruitment of the Khmer Rouge, (Whom were not that much of a threat and would never have had the numbers they had but for US policies), that coupled with the overthrow of the leader of Cambodia for a more US friendly one, led said leader to endorse the Khmer Rouge, thus leading to more recruitment.
In short, H.K. policies and that of the US were directly responsible for the killing fields. See “operation Menu”.
@David: I just said all that :-)
@Deirdre Moffat: The U.S . Certainly caused the genocide that was to become the killing fields.. The invasion of Cambodia by the U.S. and the setting up of a puppet government set the stage…The U.S. abandoned Cambodia, Vietnam, Laos…After years of fighting a war they could not win.. Like Iraq, . Afghanistan, the U.S. arrived, destroyed, left. Kissinger was instrumental in creating this policy.
@Deirdre Moffat: The Vietnamese communists actually liberated Cambodia from the genocidal Khmer Rouge regime, while the West continued to support and recognise them as the government of Cambodia for many years at the UN.
@David: One man not celebrating is the murderous fascist Putin.
Putin, meanwhile, said in a message to Kissinger’s wife that he was “a wise and far-sighted statesman” and his name “is inextricably linked with a pragmatic foreign policy line, which at one time made it possible to achieve detente in international tensions and reach the most important Soviet-American agreements that contributed to the strengthening of global security.”
Translation: He was ok with imperial conquests by the ‘great powers’ regardless of the war crimes committed in their execution.
@Bobby Digital: Why are you telling me this?
@Sean oSuilleabhain: The Killing Fields has nothing to do with Kissinger.
@Sean O’Dhubhghaill: He laid the ground work for the genocide that followed in Cambodia. The U.S. and the West actually supported Pol Pot…It was the Vietnamese Army that liberated Cambodia from the Khmer Rouge…The Millions dead , Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos can be squarely blamed on the U.S.and the policy created by Kissinger. A warmonger.
Dry eyes across the world
@David Cotter: Kissenger showed a vision of the true American Dream.
@Pól Pot: Christopher Hitchens will have a smile tonight.
@Pól Pot: Agreed…The American Dream…So called because you have to be asleep to believe it…
When he visited Cork in 2002 there was such a big protest that he had to be escorted out of a side entrance of the UCC lecture halls because of a fear for his personal safety.
It’s tragic he never got that much closer to facing the consequences of his actions.
@Seamus Enright: As Col Lawrence Wilkinson said “Americans don’t do accountability”
Only the good die young…
He’s looking up at us.
And yet, after the Cold War ended, the world is less safe than it ever was.
@AnthonyK: People are damned if they do or don’t…….and the people who ‘do’ are always whinged upon by the people that don’t.
@uUleRhCu: Especially if they ‘do’ mass murder: people like to whinge about that for some reason.
@AnthonyK: From a nuclear Armageddon standpoint, the world is far safer now than during the cold war.
@ItWasLikeThatWhenIGotHere: But going backwards.
Cause of death not given? Old age could be a factor.
@An Other: A very distinct possibility. A German Jew that was U.S. secretary of state. A bit of a conflict of interest there.
@David O Brien: How so?
@Deirdre Moffat: He, like the U.S. government even to this day believes in destroying a country in order to save it.
@David O Brien: And they are right. Let’s hope they destroy Iran next.
@David O Brien: still not sure how him being a German Jew makes that a conflict of interest, in anyway.
@The Anti palestine And Islam: How is the weather in Tel Aviv today?
@The Anti palestine And Islam: The last time U.S. interference in Iran didn’t work out to well. The U.S. overthrow of the democratically elected government who was replaced by the U.S. puppet despot called the Shah..look where that led..The U.S. abandoned the Shah very fast when it came to it. Same as they abandoned Iraq Afghanistan when it suited them..The turmoil at Kabul airport was a reminder of the turmoil on the rooftop of the U.S. Embassy in Saigon. Don’t think the (Great Satan) as Iran called it will be destroyed Iran anytime soon.
@Donal Desmond: You’re wasting your time with him/her.
A mass murderer celebrated by Americans. They really are animals
@Martin Curtin: We celebrate plenty of mass murderers in this country….hamas is the flavour of the month at the moment.
@uUleRhCu: or a bit of solidarity with the everyday people of palestine, whatever you are having yourself.
@uUleRhCu: Hamas are fighting for their country, they are allowed under international law to target Soldiers (just not civilians).
@uUleRhCu: I haven’t seen or heard one Irish person celebrating Hamas. Your anti Irish outpourings get more ridiculous by the day
@uUleRhCu: And just why do Hamas even exist, John?
Is it not because the Israeli colonist drove the Palestinian people off their land to create their state of Israel.
Their state of Israel exists on the homeland of the Palestinian people.
Which they are perfectly entitled to fight for.
@uUleRhCu: I don’t think it’s true to say Hamas are “flavour of the month” in Ireland at the moment. You are misrepresenting peoples outrage at the slaughter of civilians as something else entirely, guess it fits your narrative. And to preempt yours or others predictable response, yes I abhor and condemn the slaughter of Israeli civilians by Hamas also.
@Setanta O’Toole: The every day Palestinian support Hamas. They get hate they deserve.
@Michael Burke: Slaughter of civilians? You mean death cause by the Hamas right? Because it’s the Hamas who blocks them from leaving.
It’s the Hamas who uses school/hospital/private homes to launch their rockets.
The civilians death are on Hamas, what do you IDF to do ? Try to not do anything while they need to save their people?
Gaza is the new Dresden, people voted for them in 2006, they have more than 70% approval, they get what they deserve 100%.
@uUleRhCu: Kissinger had a lot to do with the present state of affairs concerning the terrorist state of Israel. Perhaps you would like to check out kissinger and U.S. policy regarding Israel ..especially Kissingers input.
@The Anti palestine And Islam: do you have kids? Are they vehemently fianna fail or sinn fein, or do they not have a breeze and prefer paw patrol and the like? So no, they are not getting what they deserve. Who else would you have them support, the apatheid state that is bombing their hospitals and refugee camps? Tis easy from the cheap seats.
@ItWasLikeThatWhenIGotHere: odd, but should we ignore ancient history just so your narrative fits? Let’s ignore the 12 Tribes of Israel or even the Iron Age lands of Israel and Judah. Think you may need to study a bit more history.
@The Anti palestine And Islam: You and I will not agree, 5000 dead children support Hamas?
@The Anti palestine And Islam: You Zionists can stay off this chat. Israel is the w a r c r i m i n a l.
@uUleRhCu: exactly people are all banging on about poor palastinians they have sided with Hamas……did they really think Israel would just sit back
@uUleRhCu: Your parents really did a number on you.
@uUleRhCu: “We” – you aren’t Irish.
@The Anti palestine And Islam: The Terrorist state of Israel existed before the emergence of Hamas. Israel has become the Facist state that once sought to exterminate them.
@Paul Fahey: @Paul Fahey: Ancient history?
So what you’re saying is that if people who claimed a heritage from those who left these shores long ago decided to come back, come back and overthrow our government, come back and overthrow our government and establish their own state on our land, and drive us off our land, that would be OK with you?
That is what the Israeli colonial invader did to the Palestinian people.
And did so using terrorist groups, such as Haganah, The Stern Gang and Irgun.
You also conveniently forget that this ancient land of the Jews was called Judah, and was located in the highlands west of the Jordan. It didn’t have a coastline on the Med. Or the Red Sea either for that matter.
Yet the modern state of Israel was established around Tel Aviv, on the Med coast, and has expanded to take all of Palestine, and part of Jordan.
But the descendants of those who left Judah long ago still have no claim to that land, do they?
Just as the descendants of those who left Ireland long ago have no claim to our land.
Is it because most of the descendants of those that remained had the gall to change their religion – some the Christianity, most to Islam – that you believe they lose their rights to their homeland?
@uUleRhCu: I haven’t seen anyone celebrating hamas in this country. Would you care to back up that disgusting assertion with some facts please?
@Jimmy Wallace: Quick reminder that there were Viking/Norman mercenary ships hired by both sides at the Battle of Clontarf. In fairness, the only ones that settled here were better behaved!
@Paul Fahey: here’s a reality check for you…anyone can CONVERT to Judaism and by virtue arrive in Israel and claim a piece of Palestine. This isn’t about religion, it is pure 100% colonialism. If yo don’t understand colonialism, there’s search engines that will help educate you!
And Yes, absolutely, we should ignore ancient history, it has nothing what-so-ever to do with colonial occupation.
Your logic would allow a random Scandinavian to state that he/she has an historical claim to Dublin.
@and the hit’s just keep coming: Why doesn’t the Israeli army go in and actually target Hamas instead of carpet bombing civilians?
The 9 circles of hell put forward a press releade stating that while they appreciate kissingers many achievements, they feel his presence may have a destabilising effect and are decling him entry.
100 years too late. Fascist skum.
Checkmate!
100 years old whao, the changes he must of witnessed
@Peter Murray: MASH to Knight rider
@Peter Murray: of all the changes I have witnessed in my lifetime the transformation of opal fruits to starbursts will always stay with me…
Henry Kissinger 2006
@Noel Doherty: Unfortunately Kissinger caused a lot of these changes…..His political policy was responsible for millions of deaths and the destruction of countries. Kissinger is partly responsible for the turmoil in the Middle East to this day. He certainly will not be mourned in South East Asia, South America, Middle East.
War monger
@John Nolan: aye but so was Obama, one of the purest. theres many baddies from the democratic party but there are many more from the republican side
Obama purposely gaslit the American people and more that Guantanemo was temporary and was happy to see al Assad remain in power in bloodthirsty Syria
Good riddance to bad rubbish
good… evil b**t**d
No loss to humanity.
Has Irony died as well?
I’d have to go for Gerald ford if pressed on it out of any of those from that era. of those who were republican
An early progressive who looked crackin’ togged out for American football ::) p
@Sean oSuilleabhain: they were both in the simpsons as well.
@Sean oSuilleabhain: I wouldn’t call a hardcore racist & imperialist “progressive”, neither would the people of South East Asia I’d wager
@Art Vandelay: :o appears you’re on the money
@Setanta O’Toole: both good as well
Adrenochrome kept him alive this long
Don’t forget the Australian coup of 1975.
Sad part was he got to live so long unlike his victims shame on USA
Another mass people exterminator at the heart of the USA exterminating machine from Israel where else
All American soldiers should listen to Henry Kissinger, who famously said “Soldiers are just dumb, stupid animals to do with what we please” should be on the 1st page of recruitment camp.
Great news. Thankfully the great Jimmy Carter outlived him too.
“They should give him an enema so that he can be buried in a matchbox”. Christopher Hitchens. Well comrade it’s finally here. A day you long to see.
If his ‘Realpolitik’ description is accurate, then there’s some irony in his family fleeing the the power of the nazis given they would have exterminated every Jew they could reach.
straight to hell ). what a disgusting evil excuse for a human being
About time
Kissinger, the most respected diplomat for Chinese and China. RIP!
A true USA diplomat if you cant persuade them with propaganda take it anway you can
have your say