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The members of the delegation of Algerian doctors, returning from Gaza where they carried out a humanitarian mission, were welcomed as heroes last Thursday at the Houari-Boumediene International Airport in Algiers. Hundreds of people, including many children, gathered to salute their courage and dedication in solidarity with the Palestinian people.
The head of the doctors’ delegation, Dr. Faisal Beldjilali, described scenes of desolation and pain that are hard to imagine in Gaza. “The situation is beyond anything we could have imagined. People are living in inhumane conditions,” he said. He said that the incessant bombings have destroyed much of the infrastructure and that there is no longer any safe place in the city. He also said that “the humanitarian situation is dire and Gazans are in dire need of food, medicine and basic medical supplies, making every day a struggle for survival.”
Dr. Beldjilali also revealed that, as part of their mission, Algerian doctors carried out 25 surgical operations and 1,500 medical consultations, providing essential care to a population in distress.
It was therefore as heroes that they were welcomed upon their return to Algiers. A large crowd, composed of citizens of all ages, had gathered to warmly welcome the delegation of thirteen Algerian volunteer doctors, who spent more than 20 days in Gaza in the midst of a humanitarian and health crisis, aggravated by the incessant aggressions of the Zionist entity. On this occasion, the placards, Palestinian flags and songs of solidarity illustrated the unwavering support of the Algerian people for the Palestinian cause.
The head of the delegation, moved to tears by the warm welcome, expressed his gratitude, saying: “Honestly, we did not expect such a welcome, it really warms the heart.” He stressed that their mission in Gaza was only the fulfillment of a duty. “We only did our duty, that of saving lives and being at the bedside of our Palestinian brothers who are suffering martyrdom,” he said. He added: “We did our best to honor Algeria and express the solidarity of our people with the Palestinian cause.”
It should be recalled that this is the first Algerian medical delegation to reach Gaza since the beginning of the aggression by the Zionist entity last October, despite numerous difficulties encountered in gaining access to the devastated Palestinian enclave.
The mission of Algerian volunteer doctors in Gaza was made possible thanks to coordination with humanitarian associations, in particular the Rahma Autour du Monde association. After waiting more than a month and a half, the doctors were able to cross the borders and the strategic Karim Abou Salem crossing, and quickly integrate local healthcare structures.
Upon their arrival in Gaza, the volunteer doctors were faced with war medical emergencies, treating serious injuries caused by the bombings. They also had to deal with common medical cases such as fractures, appendicitis and chronic diseases. Their first intervention was a complex surgery to save the life of a young girl injured by shrapnel lodged in her intestines.
According to testimonies collected on the spot by the public media, their presence was of great help in compensating for the enormous lack of equipment and medical personnel in Gaza hospitals, which were on the verge of collapse due to the prolonged duration of the attacks. Thus, for more than 20 days, Algerian doctors, specialized in orthopedics, internal medicine, neurology and general surgery, worked in several hospitals in northern Gaza, including El-Chifa hospital and the El-Nasr hospital complex. Their presence made it possible to provide specialized care and perform essential surgical interventions for patients who would not otherwise have been able to receive the help they needed to survive.