The Red Cross Field Hospital one year on: A lifeline and a stark reminder in Gaza

Since its opening, the Red Cross Field Hospital has treated over 80,240 patients. Behind each statistic is the story of a human life: a child recovering from shrapnel wounds and unthinkable burns, a mother surviving childbirth against the odds, a father learning to walk again after surgery. 

These stories remind us why we are here — and why we hope, fervently, to one day be able to leave. 

The ICRC remains committed to supporting the people of Gaza. Our teams continue to work with our Red Cross and Red Crescent partners and local health workers, offering not just medical care but training, mentorship, and support. But ultimately, the goal is to ensure that people can once again seek care in a permanent hospital with facilities designed for healing, not for emergency survival. 

We mark this one-year anniversary with mixed emotions. Gratitude for what has been possible. Grief for what has been lost. And a hope that, one day soon, the Red Cross Field Hospital will be able to close its doors.