**Gaza Rescue Workers Face Unprecedented Challenges**
In the aftermath of the 15-month conflict in Gaza, rescue workers are facing unprecedented challenges. The Civil Defence, Gaza’s main emergency service, has lost 99 workers and injured 319 more during the Israeli bombardment.
Rescue workers like Nooh al-Shaghnobi, a 24-year-old from Gaza City, have been tasked with some of the most difficult and dangerous work. Al-Shaghnobi placed an orange vest on top of a corpse at one funeral, as it was part of his colleague’s uniform when he died.
**The Human Cost**
According to the Hamas health ministry, Israel killed over 47,000 Palestinians during the conflict, mostly women and children. The death toll is likely underestimated by over 40%, according to a recent study by the Lancet Medical Journal.
Rescue workers are still finding bodies under the rubble in Gaza City’s Tel el-Hawa area. Al-Shaghnobi said they found three skeletons matching the description of people left behind, despite private bulldozers being nearby.
**Psychological Trauma**
The rescue workers are experiencing extreme psychological trauma. None of the four rescuers who spoke to BBC this week in Gaza said that they had received counselling.
“We all need it,” said Mohammed Lafi, a 25-year-old rescue worker from Gaza City. “But no one talks about this.”
Even if counselling was widely available, many say a day’s work would be enough time for the wounds to resurface.
**Recovering Bodies**
New images from Gaza show scenes of near total destruction, especially in the north. Civil Defence spokesman Mahmoud Baal said the agency hoped to recover the remaining bodies from under the rubble within 100 days.
However, they acknowledge that this is a difficult goal, as they have virtually no bulldozers or other heavy equipment. The UN aid coordination office OCHA warned that recovering the bodies of victims could take years due to a lack of equipment and personnel.
**A City of Terrors**
As families continue to search for their loved ones among the human remains laid out at hospitals, it becomes clear just how difficult this process will be.
Nisreen Schaaban was searching for her 16-year-old son Moatassem who went missing during the bombardment. “I feel like I’m living in a graveyard,” she said. “It’s a city of terrors.”
**A Call to Action**
Civil Defence estimates that up to 3,000 people were incinerated during the bombardment. This has robbed some families of their final search.
Al-Shaghnobi said, “These people must be found and honored.” “This work is waiting for us.” We only need the equipment to do it.