Anas Al Kassem, a Syrian Canadian trauma surgeon, tells the heartbreaking story of his most recent trip home to provide emergency aid after the earthquake
, which supports international medical teams by providing them with training and equipment. We assist five major hospitals in northern Syria and run 12 mobile clinics that offer basic medical care and mental health services for patients who can’t travel to hospitals. We also run six centres in Turkey, close to the border, that provide psychological care to displaced people.
When I heard about the 7.8- and 7.5-magnitude earthquakes on February 6, I knew that the suffering would be huge. That part of the world is extremely vulnerable. More than 1.2 million people live in refugee camps near the Syria–Turkey border after losing their homes in the war. They don’t even have bathrooms or kitchens, and they’re still at risk from airstrikes. Even a small earthquake—let alone these massive ones—would hit the area hard.
Many cases broke my heart, including a three-year-old patient named Arslan. He lost his dad, mom and siblings after a building collapse. The White Helmets were able to evacuate him, and they were so relieved that he made it out of the rubble. We treated him for a week; he needed multiple sessions of wound care and nearly had to have his legs amputated. Then, a few days after I left the country, I learned that he had died. I was devastated.
As emergency responders, we rely on one another for emotional support to get through. We also turn to spiritual practices; in the Quran, it says, “If you save one life, it’s as if you saved the whole of humanity.” That reminds me not to get overwhelmed—we knew we couldn’t save every victim of this disaster. Instead, I focus on helping one person at a time. When there are low points, I think about the children I’ve managed to rescue.
France Dernières Nouvelles, France Actualités
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