‘I no longer can work as a radiographer

Nothing in my basic radiographer training nor in my childhood years of schooling and parental encouragement could have prepared me for living in a major conflict zone. Previously, when I had access to television, I watched news reports and films about war, but only a few examples concentrate properly on the individual lives of civilians impacted by conflict. Film-based media representations tend to focus on the professionals who are employed to fight within a war, including those on the frontline and behind the scenes staff – such as those working in field hospitals. Some attention is paid to civilians, but generally in a cursory fashion; occasionally films do focus on the lives of individuals and families. News reports tend to illustrate major military events, such as major bombardment, whether an army has advanced or not and rough estimates of deaths/casualties. In such reports mention might be made of human suffering, illustrating some examples. As a conflict drags on, new reports become less frequent, as generally the continuation of a conflict isn’t deemed newsworthy. Once a conflict approaches military resolution practically nothing is reported in the international new media, but civilian suffering continues.

Nothing in my basic radiographer training nor in my childhood years of schooling and parental encouragement could have prepared me for living in a major conflict zone. Previously, when I had access to television, I watched news reports and films about war, but only a few examples concentrate properly on the individual lives of civilians impacted by conflict. Film-based media representations tend to focus on the professionals who are employed to fight within a war, including those on the frontline and behind the scenes staff – such as those working in field hospitals.

Some attention is paid to civilians, but generally in a cursory fashion; occasionally films do focus on the lives of individuals and families. News reports tend to illustrate major military events, such as major bombardment, whether an army has advanced or not and rough estimates of deaths/casualties. In such reports mention might be made of human suffering, illustrating some examples. As a conflict drags on, new reports become less frequent, as generally the continuation of a conflict isn’t deemed newsworthy. Once a conflict approaches military resolution practically nothing is reported in the international new media, but civilian suffering continues.

My home and my city have been destroyed and my family and I have been living in a tent for more than a year. Having to live in temporary accommodation where access to food and water is limited has been immensely traumatic for my family. That has put me under extreme pressure, not only to provide food for them but also to try my best to protect them from harm from war and harm that might occur normally in a social context. Should I have been a radiographer working in a conflict zone then only I, as a professional, would have been exposed to danger and my family would have been safe – being located miles away in a non-conflict zone and conducting a normal life. My social life contains visual and audible reminders of being in an active conflict zone. Outside the civilian safe zone camp is total destruction. Throughout day and night I hear the sound of bullets, missiles, cannons and military planes.

My professional life as a radiographer went through immense changes as the war progressed. Initially, I travelled to my hospital and had to work very long hours attending to casualties. Some days missiles and bombs had damaged the hospital and even my X-ray room. This resulted in me having to clear debris, such as concrete, away from clinical areas as well as basic cleaning up to make the area suitable for receiving patients. Power outages were common, which meant I could not do any imaging. On such occasions I helped around the hospital wherever I could, doing whatever was needed. The final blow to my professional life came when the hospital was destroyed – I can no longer work as a radiographer as there is no hospital and no X-ray room. However, I remain a radiographer in my heart and hope one day soon I can return to my duties

More about the Israel-Palestine conflict

Radiographers work under pressure in many demanding circumstances. Wherever we hear of traumatic situations around the world, SoR members know that our sisters and brothers in the profession will be involved in delivering essential care. This article hears of one radiographer’s first-hand experiences of the conflict in Gaza. This conflict came about following the attack by Hamas on 7 October 2023, when on 27 October the Israeli government initiated a large-scale military response in Gaza (read the full SoR response to the situation in Gaza here).

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