John –

Earlier this month, Dr. Seema Jilani, Senior Health Advisor with the IRC, spent two weeks working in an emergency room in Gaza as part of an emergency medical team, in collaboration with our partners, Medical Aid for Palestinians (MAP).

This life-saving work – treating patients, providing direct medical care at hospitals, and distributing medical supplies and pharmaceuticals – is only made possible because of supporters like you.

Because you are such an integral part of our work, we wanted to share this recent interview Dr. Jilani did with NPR when she returned from Gaza. >>

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In it, she describes the unimaginable circumstances that children and families are facing -- and a medical system on the brink of collapse -- due to the ongoing bombardment of Gaza. During Dr. Jilani's time at Al Aqsa hospital, both children and humanitarian workers were among the wounded.

"As a pediatrician, I didn't think I would be very useful because this is war... I can say that on one day... out of our five patients, four were children. And I'm very sad and deeply disturbed to say that I was very useful as a pediatrician in a war zone, and that should never be the case."
— Dr. Seema Jilani, IRC Senior Health Advisor

HEAR FROM DR. JILANI »
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Increasing military activity around the hospital forced Dr. Jilani and her colleagues to withdraw from Gaza, but she told NPR that she would absolutely return if and whenever possible to help children and families harmed by the conflict.

Without access to the life-saving medical care provided at hospitals like Al Aqsa, many more children and families will die. The IRC remains committed to sustaining our emergency medical team and will provide emergency medical services in Gaza wherever it is safe to do so.

I hope you'll read or listen to Dr. Jilani's interview. And if, like me, you are moved by her words, I hope that you'll share her story just as I'm doing now.

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ARI SHAPIRO: If you're able to go back [to Gaza], will you?
DR. JILANI: Absolutely.
ARI SHAPIRO: You say that so unequivocally.
DR. JILANI: Unquestionably.

HEAR FROM DR. JILANI »
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Thank you for your compassion.

— Elias

Elias Abu Ata
Senior Communications Officer
International Rescue Committee

The International Rescue Committee | Rescue.org

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