Gaza: Director of the Civil Defense in the Gaza Strip, Brigadier General Raed Al Dahshan, revealed the dire situation in Gaza, where a ban on heavy machinery is hindering the recovery of approximately 10,000 bodies still buried under rubble.
According to Qatar News Agency, Brigadier General Al Dahshan stated that the Civil Defense has managed to recover only about 350 bodies to date, leaving thousands trapped beneath debris. He highlighted the heartbreaking reality that most of the bodies are identified by their families, but what is often recovered are skeletal remains due to delayed access and prolonged entrapment.
He further detailed the severe limitation of resources, noting that the Civil Defense has lost about 85 percent of its equipment. The agency is now functioning at merely 5 to 7 percent of its original capacity, leading to a near-complete paralysis of its operations. The crews are forced to work with minimal resources, including just one operational fire truck, rescue vehicle, and ambulance.
Brigadier General Al Dahshan also shared the tragic loss of 142 Civil Defense staff members who died while fulfilling their humanitarian duties. Additionally, 352 crew members have been seriously injured, with many sustaining amputations, permanent disabilities, and other severe injuries, rendering them unable to continue service.