Medical and Hospital News
DISASTER MANAGEMENT
Jordan hospital treats war casualties from across Middle East
Jordan hospital treats war casualties from across Middle East
By Kamal Taha
Amman (AFP) May 11, 2025

Shahd Tahrawi was wounded in an Israeli strike on Gaza, Hossam Abd al-Rahman suffered burns in an explosion in Iraq and bombardment in Yemen has left Mohammed Zakaria in need of multiple surgeries.

They all met at the charitable Al-Mowasah hospital in the Jordanian capital Amman, which treats some of the many civilians wounded in conflicts across the Middle East.

"I feel sad when I look around me in this place" seeing "people like me, innocent, simple civilians" whose lives have been blighted by the horrors of war, said Abd al-Rahman, a 21-year-old Iraqi patient.

"They are victims of war, burned by its fires... but had no part in igniting them," he told AFP.

He is waiting for his ninth operation at the Amman hospital, to treat third-degree burns to his face, neck, abdomen, back and hand he suffered in an accident with unexploded ordnance in his native city of Samarra, north of Baghdad.

"I was a child when I was burned 10 years ago," he said.

"My life was completely destroyed, and my future was lost. I left school even though my dream was to become a pilot one day."

Abd al-Rahman, who had 17 surgeries in Iraq before arriving at the hospital in Jordan, said that through "all these painful operations", he hopes to "regain some of my appearance and life as a normal human being".

At Al-Mowasah, also known as the Specialised Hospital for Reconstructive Surgery and run by medical charity Doctors Without Borders (MSF), Abd al-Rahman said he has found comfort in meeting patients from around the region.

"We spend long periods of time here, sometimes many months, and these friendships reduce our loneliness and homesickness."

- 'They feel safe' -

MSF field communications manager Merel van de Geyn said the hospital has patients "from conflict zones across the Middle East, from Syria, Yemen, Iraq and Gaza".

"We provide them with complete treatment free of charge" and cover the cost of flights, food and other expenses, she said.

In addition to the medical procedures, the hospital places great importance on psychological support.

"Here, they feel safe," said van de Geyn.

"They're surrounded by people who have gone through similar experiences... Mutual support truly helps them."

From her room on the hospital's fifth floor, Shahd Tahrawi, a 17-year-old Palestinian, recalled the night of December 9, 2023, when a massive explosion destroyed her family's home in Rafah, in the southern Gaza Strip.

The Israeli bombardment killed her father and 11-year-old sister, and left Shahd and her mother wounded.

Shahd has had five operations on her left leg, three of them in Jordan.

She said that on the night of the strike, she was woken up by the sound of the explosion and the rubble falling on her.

"I started screaming, 'Help me, help me!'... and then I lost conciousness."

Now, she said her dream was to become a doctor and help "save people's lives, just like the doctors save mine".

- 'Nothing but destruction' -

The hospital was established in 2006 to treat victims of the sectarian violence that erupted in Iraq in the aftermath of the US-led invasion, but has since expanded its mission.

In just under two decades, 8,367 patients from Iraq, Yemen, the Palestinian territories, Sudan, Libya and Syria have undergone a total of 18,323 surgeries for injuries caused by bullets, explosions, bombardment, air strikes and building collapses in conflict.

The hospital has 148 beds, three operating theatres, and physiotherapy and psychological support departments.

In one room, four Yemeni patients were convalescing.

One of them, 16-year-old Mohammed Zakaria, had dreamt of becoming a professional footballer, before his life changed dramatically when an air strike blew up a fuel tanker in Yarim, south of the Yemeni capital Sanaa, in 2016.

The blast killed six of his relatives and friends, his father, Zakaria Hail, said.

"The war has brought us nothing but destruction," said the father, sitting next to his son who is unable to speak after recent surgery to his mouth.

Related Links
Bringing Order To A World Of Disasters
A world of storm and tempest
When the Earth Quakes

Subscribe Free To Our Daily Newsletters
Tweet

RELATED CONTENT
The following news reports may link to other Space Media Network websites.
DISASTER MANAGEMENT
Five dead, two missing in Colombia landslide
Bogota (AFP) May 9, 2025
At least five people were killed and two are missing after a landslide near Colombia's second-largest city Medellin on Thursday, local authorities said. Rescue teams were deployed to Sabaneta municipality, south of Medellin, where heavy rains caused landslides and flooding, Antioquia department governor Andres Julian Rendon said on X. Videos shared on social media appeared to show several homes buried in the region. The mayor's office said it had set up shelters for victims while rescue eff ... read more

DISASTER MANAGEMENT
Jordan hospital treats war casualties from across Middle East

EU demands accountability for Myanmar school strike

Climate change increasing risk of pregnancy problems: study

China tells US 'stop smearing and shifting blame' on fentanyl crisis

DISASTER MANAGEMENT
Sierra Space Reaches Key Milestone in Space Force R-GPS Program

Children as young as five can navigate a 'tiny town'

Digging Gets Smarter with Trimble's Siteworks Upgrade for Excavators

Rx Networks launches TruePoint FOCUS to deliver real-time centimeter precision

DISASTER MANAGEMENT
Versatile Call Combinations in Chimpanzees May Shed Light on the Evolution of Human Language

Hormone cycles shape the structure and function of key memory regions in the brain

Aztec Obsidian Study Uncovers Complex Ancient Trade Networks

Chimpanzees Use Medicinal Plants for Wound Care and Hygiene in Ugandan Forests

DISASTER MANAGEMENT
Viral Malaysia elephant death sparks calls for crossings

Fresh Analysis Reveals Greater Impact of Agriculture on Insect Diversity

Endangered vultures killed in S.Africa poisoning; Japan arrests 3 with suitcases filled with hermit crabs

Elk could return to UK after 3,000 years as plan wins funding

DISASTER MANAGEMENT
White House site blames China for Covid-19 'lab leak'

Pentagon invites back former military fired for refusing COVID-19 vaccines

Merkel denies covering up report on Covid-19 origins

Sudan cholera outbreak kills 70 in a week: officials

DISASTER MANAGEMENT
Jaded young Chinese reset lives with rural 'retirement'

Traditional culture, fancy dress meet at Hong Kong's raucous bun festival

9 dead, dozens hurt after boats capsize in China: state media

Bad weather postpones return of Chinese astronauts to Earth

DISASTER MANAGEMENT
Will Trump strike drug cartels he says 'run' Mexico?

US offers $5M reward for information leading to arrest, conviction of MS-13 leader

Gunmen disguised as soldiers kill 12 people at Ecuador cockfight

Spain police dig up underground shooting range used by gun traffickers

DISASTER MANAGEMENT
Subscribe Free To Our Daily Newsletters




The content herein, unless otherwise known to be public domain, are Copyright 1995-2024 - Space Media Network. All websites are published in Australia and are solely subject to Australian law and governed by Fair Use principals for news reporting and research purposes. AFP, UPI and IANS news wire stories are copyright Agence France-Presse, United Press International and Indo-Asia News Service. ESA news reports are copyright European Space Agency. All NASA sourced material is public domain. Additional copyrights may apply in whole or part to other bona fide parties. All articles labeled "by Staff Writers" include reports supplied to Space Media Network by industry news wires, PR agencies, corporate press officers and the like. Such articles are individually curated and edited by Space Media Network staff on the basis of the report's information value to our industry and professional readership. Advertising does not imply endorsement, agreement or approval of any opinions, statements or information provided by Space Media Network on any Web page published or hosted by Space Media Network. General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) Statement Our advertisers use various cookies and the like to deliver the best ad banner available at one time. All network advertising suppliers have GDPR policies (Legitimate Interest) that conform with EU regulations for data collection. By using our websites you consent to cookie based advertising. If you do not agree with this then you must stop using the websites from May 25, 2018. Privacy Statement. Additional information can be found here at About Us.