A man who was injured in the explosion of one of the handheld devices, lies inside an operation room ahead of an eye surgery at the Eye Specialist hospital, in Beirut, Lebanon, Friday, Sept. 20, 2024. (AP Photo/Hussein Malla)


September 23, 2024 Tags:

For nearly a week, ophthalmologist Elias Jaradeh has been working tirelessly to treat a surge of patients with eye injuries after pagers and walkie-talkies exploded across Lebanon. The devices, which detonated in large numbers, left Jaradeh performing countless surgeries in multiple hospitals, often surviving on just two hours of sleep before moving to the next case. While he has managed to restore some patients’ vision, many others will be left permanently blind.

“The tragedy is overwhelming,” Jaradeh shared with The Associated Press at a hospital in Beirut, his voice heavy with emotion. "Seeing so many people, especially young men, children, and women, arriving with eye injuries all at once is devastating."

Lebanese hospitals have been flooded since the explosions occurred last Tuesday and Wednesday, when thousands of handheld devices linked to the Hezbollah militant group detonated simultaneously. At least 39 people lost their lives, and around 3,000 more were injured, many with life-altering wounds. Although Israel is suspected of being behind the attack, it has not confirmed or denied involvement.

While the devices may have been aimed at Hezbollah fighters, many of the victims were civilians. Most of those injured had been looking at the devices as they exploded, suffering serious damage to their hands, faces, and especially their eyes. The exact number of people who lost their sight remains unknown.

Experienced Lebanese eye doctors, who have treated injuries from numerous wars and conflicts, say they have never encountered a situation like this.

Jaradeh, who also serves as a lawmaker for southern Lebanon, noted that many of the patients he treated had severe injuries, including shrapnel embedded in their eyes. His hospital, specializing in ophthalmology, was inundated with young patients bearing life-changing wounds.

This explosion follows the devastating blast that rocked Beirut’s port four years ago, killing over 200 people and injuring more than 6,000. While that disaster, caused by the unsafe storage of ammonium nitrate, also resulted in widespread eye injuries, Jaradeh said the scale of the current crisis is even more intense due to the overwhelming number of patients with eye trauma.

“After the Beirut port explosion, we were able to begin processing the shock within 48 hours," Jaradeh said. "But now, we haven't even reached that point yet."

Jaradeh added that, despite his training as a doctor, separating his emotions from his work in the operating room has been nearly impossible. "No matter what you learn in medical school about keeping distance, it’s incredibly difficult in situations like this, where you're faced with the sheer number of wounded. This isn’t just a war on Lebanon, it’s a war on humanity,” he said.

How useful was this post?

Click on a star to rate it!

Average rating 0 / 5. Vote count: 0

No votes so far! Be the first to rate this post.

You may also like

Alberta Health Issues Measles Alert for Southern Region, Including Calgary

Alberta Health Services (AHS) has released a public health notice following a recent spike in confirmed measles cases in southern....

U.S. Pushes to Remove Artificial Dyes from Foods by 2026

In a move aimed at improving children’s health, U.S. health officials announced plans to eliminate artificial food dyes from the....

Pandemic Delays in Cancer Screenings Show Minimal Long-Term Impact, Study finds

A new report reveals that delays in cancer screenings during the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic may not have....

‘Ice Bucket Challenge’ Reimagined, Viral Trend Turned into Mental Health Movement

The iconic Ice Bucket Challenge is back — but this time, with a powerful new purpose. Students at the University....

Wyoming Abortion Bans Head to State Supreme Court for Review

Wyoming’s abortion laws are once again under legal scrutiny. On Wednesday, the state Supreme Court will hear arguments over controversial....

Measles Outbreak Grows Amid Confusion Over Vaccine Messaging

The United States is grappling with a major measles outbreak, but experts say poor communication and mixed messaging about vaccines....

Toronto's UHN Launches Strategic Global Recruitment For Top Medical Scientists Amid U.S. Cuts Jobs

Toronto’s University Health Network (UHN), Canada’s leading research hospital, has unveiled an ambitious global recruitment strategy aimed at positioning the....

Shingles Vaccine May Lower Dementia Risk, Study Finds

Scientists have uncovered compelling evidence linking the shingles vaccine to a reduced risk of dementia. A large-scale study conducted in....

Fungal Infections becoming Resistant to Treatment, WHO Issues Urgent Warning

The World Health Organization (WHO) has raised alarms over drug-resistant fungal infections, warning that some treatments are no longer effective.....

Kennedy’s HHS Overhaul Puts Addiction Treatment At Risk

A major shakeup in the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) could lead to the weakening—or even elimination—of....

Deadly Fungal Superbug Candida Auris Spreads Rapidly in Hospitals

A dangerous fungal superbug, Candida auris (C. auris), is rapidly spreading in hospitals and nursing homes, raising serious public health....

Researchers in Limbo as Columbia Caves to Trump’s Demands for $400M

Columbia University is facing intense scrutiny after agreeing to strict policy changes to regain $400 million in federal funding revoked....