Dr. Michael Grady recently returned to Asheville after spending nearly five weeks in southern Gaza, providing aid to hundreds of wounded individuals. He is affiliated with the International Medical Corps and has previously offered medical assistance in Ukraine and Turkey.
During his time in Rafah between mid-January and mid-February, Grady primarily worked in the emergency department, where the number of patients seeking help escalated rapidly. Many of them had traveled from northern Gaza to escape the escalating violence.
Grady recounted that within days of the facility opening, they were seeing hundreds of patients daily, with the numbers increasing significantly. The dire situation forced people to live on the streets in makeshift tents, creating a challenging environment.
Facing numerous mass casualty events, Grady and his team had to deal with a large influx of patients at once due to explosions from missiles, tanks, or collapsing structures. The constant threat of shelling added to the risks they faced daily.
Working in emergency conditions, Grady found himself performing surgeries in unconventional settings like tents or converted trucking containers used as operating rooms. Despite the challenges, he is proud to have been able to make a difference in such critical circumstances.
Grady emphasized that the experience highlighted the interconnectedness of humanity, and although he is now safe from the dangers of the conflict zone, he remains deeply impacted by the opportunity to help those in need.
