Hell on earth: Austrian nurse fights in Gaza

Hell on earth: Austrian nurse fights in Gaza

in the Gaza strip, where there has been war for over a year, the humanitarian crisis accepts dramatic proportions. Barbara Trattnig, the only Austrian employee of “Doctors Without Borders” on site, reports unimaginable suffering. Their descriptions are urgent: "In Gaza, destruction and need is greatest," she explains, emphasizing that security for patients and helpers is not guaranteed in the humanitarian zone. Despite the provisional facilities in Deir El-Bala, a city almost twenty kilometers from the Egyptian border, the conditions are catastrophic. "There is a lack of everything," she adds, while she describes the constant attacks and the collapse of the power supply. An alarming state, especially for the children who develop through cold and missing hygiene products.

The situation has further tightened in northern Gazas. Trattnig describes that in October only six percent of the relief goods were approved to get to the northern part. She explains: "If food was available on the market, it was also very expensive. It is there food, but you can no longer afford it." Her return to Gaza shortly before Christmas shows her unshakable use. Trattnig, who returns to her beloved crisis area after a vacation, chose this path to help people in need. Originally she wanted to be a midwife, today she coordinates medical help and often works without a clear separation between work and leisure.

a life in the service of humanity

Barbara Trattnig looks back on a career that she has led through some of the world's most conflicting regions - from Iraq to Yemen to Afghanistan. They shaped these missions and gave them the tireless wish to help others. Despite the daily handling of suffering, she strives not to lose hope: "You have to focus on the positive line, even if you see a lot of suffering," she says determined. Their commitment and courage make it clear how important humanitarian aid is in crisis areas, while the world often closes the eyes of misery.

The descriptions of Barbara Trattnig illustrate the terrifying reality in the Gaza strip and the challenges that helpers look for each other every day. The reports from the front line of the humanitarian crisis leave no cold. Information about the situation can be obtained from ORF and the small newspaper , which document the desperate location and the tireless use of the helpers on site.