Martin Griffiths opens up about Gaza experience
Trauma surgeon, Professor Martin Griffiths, has spoken about his experience of travelling to and volunteering in Gaza.
After speaking to his family and the trust, Professor Griffiths, took a leave of absence and crossed into Gaza on September 7.
Working with UK med – a Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO) which he previously worked with six years ago in South Sudan – Professor Griffiths has been helping in a hospital in the north of the city.
Professor Griffiths spoke on BBC Radio 4’s Today programme (interview starts about one hour and 40 minutes into the programme) about working in a war zone, including waking up at 4am to the sound of bombs.
“Nothing I have ever seen or heard, has prepared me for the level of devastation and infrastructure loss that is occurring in Gaza,” he said.
He also spoke to the The Times and The Guardian, where he spoke about the types of injuries he is seeing including leg fractures and bullet wounds.
“The need is absolute. The work is greatly received,” he told The Times.
“We’re doing incredible work. We’re making a big difference.”
Professor Griffiths is due back in the UK at the start of October and will return to his NHS work on our trauma ward at The Royal London.
“I’ll tell you one thing, I am never going to complain about the NHS ever again,” he says in The Times.