Gaza.

Dr Mads Gilbert

”.. We wade in death, blood and amputees. Many children. Pregnant woman. I have never experienced anything this horrible. Now we hear tanks. Tell it, pass it on, shout it. Anything. DO SOMETHING! DO MORE! We’re living in the history books now, all of us!” — SMS 3 Jan ‘09 @ 1:50pm

Dr Mads Gilbert gave a talk at UCL last night organised by Dr Swee Ang’s Medical Aid for Palestinians, SOAS Palestine Society and UCL Friends of Palestine Society — a powerful follow on from Dr Ang’s “The Wounds of Gaza” last week.

“Dr Mads” and his colleague Dr Erik Fosse entered Gaza just days after the December offensive began, making his way through Egypt to the Rafah border-crossing in the Norwegian Ambassador’s car, heading directly to the Al-Shifa hospital.

At times overwhelming, the talk told the stories and showed many shocking photographs of the victims - 1/3 of them children - that we have blogged about here, including Samar Abed Rabbu, the Samouni family and DIME weapons. Hearing this from someone that actually treated these victims made it all the more powerful.

Gazans Don’t Want Our Pity, Only Our Solidarity.

Dr Gilbert quoted the Gazan people a number of times, summing up their dignity and courage in the face of such horror, brutality and tragedy. Rather than mangle those words from memory, we hope to have a link to a video of the talk soon (it was filmed by MAP/UCLFPS).

“Øyne i Gaza” — The Book

Drs Gilbert and Fosse have written a book, Øyne i Gaza (Eyes in Gaza)

.. a revealing depiction of real events from what they experienced and witnessed during the conflict. The authors draw on their experience from thirty years of work in the Middle East.

Currently available in Norwegian and being translated into Arabic, Swedish, French and Italian. Unfortunately they’ve been unable to secure a publisher for an English translation.

**If you can help find a publisher willing to back this important historical and humanitarian record, please get in touch…**

About ‘Dr Mads’

Dr Gilbert is Head of the Department of Emergency Medical Services at University Hospital of North Norway. UNN allows their staff to attend conflict zones such as Gaza and still receive full pay — an example that all public institutions should take and put into practice. His mission to Gaza was organised through Norwegian Aid Committee (NORWAC).

Here’s Dr Gilbert in a discussion on AJE’s Riz Khan show, about the continuing blockade/siege of Gaza, “Gaza’s Unending Nightmare”:

(Apr ‘09) Part 1 above, watch part 2 here…

The Wounds of Gaza - An Illustrated Lecture

by Dr. Swee Ang

A Consultant Orthopaedic Surgeon who was one of the first British Doctors to enter Gaza after the Israeli invasion earlier this year.

Her objective professional account, the accuracy of which cannot be doubted is a must for anyone concerned about the area, its needs, and the search for justice and peace.

This is a rare eyewitness account by an eminent British surgeon.

WHEN?

7.30pm — Saturday, October 31, 2009 

WHERE?

Friends Meeting House, Reading, UK
2 Church Street (off London Street), Reading, RG1 2SB, UK

Read the original “Wounds of Gaza” report by Dr Swee Ang and Dr Ghassan Abu Sittah (originally published at The Lancet Global Health Network).

About Dr Swee Ang,
“the unsung heroine of Beirut”

Dr Ang worked with civilians during the Lebanese Civil War. Her book “From Beirut to Jerusalem” details her eye-witness account of the Sabra and Shatila massacre.

She founded the medical charity Medical Aid for Palestinians (MAP) “.. in 1984 in the aftermath of the Sabra and Shatila massacres with a mission to provide emergency relief and medical assistance to Palestinians in desperate need of help as a result of the Israeli invasion and the civil war in Lebanon.”

On Gaza — “The need is enormous. The situation now is really terrible. Like many people in the UK I’ve been watching the footage of the destruction of Gaza and also the blame game. It’s obscene to play the blame game when people are dying and losing their homes.” — BBC

Dr Ang has worked all over the world providing medical care to those in need, including after the 2006 Pakistan earthquake.

PLEASE SUPPORT THIS EVENT BY ATTENDING AND TELLING YOUR FRIENDS AND FAMILY!

With Dr Swee Ang’s kind permission, for those that can’t attend and the public record, we will be recording the lecture. We plan on posting an illustrated video on this blog. An important message that we think should be given the widest audience.

Contact us if you have any questions…