Contributor , 2025-05-21 14:04:00
Our colleagues are struggling daily with the collapse of the healthcare system, the destruction of hospitals and the death of their fellow healthcare workers
Dear Colleague:
As a group of doctors, graduated from NUI Galway, we would like to express our deep concern with regard to the ever worsening humanitarian crisis in Gaza. We are particularly concerned for our medical and healthcare colleagues working in impossible situations there.
Our colleagues are struggling daily with the collapse of the healthcare system, the destruction of hospitals and the death of their fellow Healthcare workers. They are working with bombed hospitals, makeshift operating theatres, absence of essential medicines and the destruction of medical equipment.
They are witnessing malnutrition, near famine conditions, destruction of water and sanitation systems.
They operate on children without rudimentary pain relief.
Simple basic treatment of infections, that we take for granted, is difficult enough to access, but treatment for serious illnesses such as cancer barely exists.
The creation of field hospitals by various International NGOs does not at all compensate for the extensive loss of the healthcare infrastructure.
Hospitals, healthcare workers, and their patients, are being targeted. This is all truly reprehensible and has no place in a supposedly civilised 21st century.
We do not take sides in this war and we unreservedly condemn the killing by both Hamas and the Israeli Defence Forces.
However, we are deeply concerned as we witness the deteriorating situation, the killing of innocent people, the lack of respect for civilian life and the escalating humanitarian disaster.
The First Geneva Convention states that there should be no “obstacle to the humanitarian activities” and that wounded and sick “shall be respected and protected in all circumstances.” Article 18 demands that medical units, i.e. hospitals and mobile medical facilities, may in no circumstances be attacked.
We, like many others, feel helpless but believe that this intolerable situation cannot be allowed to continue.
As we hear reports of only a very limited number of trucks being allowed into Gaza in recent days, we add our voices to the call for immediate opening of the borders to allow the necessary supply of aid to get through.
We call on our colleagues to support this, in any way they can, as we witness this ongoing disaster.
Yours,
University Of Galway Graduates 1984
Dr Laura Barker
Dr Ann Marie Connolly
Dr Alexandra Duncan
Dr Siobhan Graham
Dr Grace Kenny
Mr Dermot Lanigan
Dr Brian Lennon
Dr Geraldine O’Dea
Dr Christopher Rozario
Dr Brid Bourke
Dr Margaret Connolly
Dr Sean Connolly
Dr Khalid Dhafar
Dr Marie Drumgoole
Prof Fidelma Dunne
Dr Susan Finnerty
Dr Eilis Maher
Dr Martina Healy
Dr Mary Jennings
Dr Teresa Kenny
Prof Michael Kerin
Prof i Soon Khoo
Dr David Mannion
Dr Mary McMahon
Dr Mark Phelan
Dr Helen Spillane
Dr Shanti Sundaram
Dr Mary Whittle.
Dr Eamon O’Shea (1995)
Dr Orla Flanagan (1994)
