Dr. Raed Arini Interview: Transcript
Dr. Raed Arini, a thoracic surgeon, has been volunteering his expertise on the front lines of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict for the past three years.
By Erin Green, Wed Feb 8, 5:47 PM ET
Dr. Raed Arini, a thoracic surgeon, has been volunteering his expertise on the front lines of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict for the past three years.
Kevin Sites alked to Dr. Arini (through a translator) about the tumultuous process of body identification and the psychological toll of being a doctor in Gaza.
You can watch the interview or, if you are having trouble with the video player, read the partial transcript below.
DR. RAED ARINI: Most of the people who come to the hospital after hearing a bombardment or the news, they come to the hospital to see who was wounded, who was killed -- their friends, their relatives, their cousins, their commanders -- anything. Their ambitions, their passions, it leads them to the hospital.
The other people come to [give] the farewell kiss, to kiss their friends or relatives before burying. And, all of that because of their emotions, strong emotions, at that moment of killing.
KEVIN SITES: Is it hard for you to work while that is happening?
RA: It is difficult for work. We're used to it. It has become a part of our daily life. We have no other choice.
KS: What are you trying to do in there, doctor, while all of that is going on? What is the purpose for you? What are you trying to do in that room? What is the purpose to deal with the bodies? Are you trying to dress them for burial?
RA: First of all, for the diagnosis and writing reports and checking the bodies and some systemic work. And we hopefully wait for living people to be able to work and to wrap the bodies of the martyrs.
KS: To wrap them. Is there a special process, how you wrap them? If so, could you explain it?
RA: First of all, as Muslims we wrap them according to Islam, you know. Another point, we put them in an accepted case that their relatives and their friends could see them...
KS: and identify them.
RA: As I try to reduce the chalk of the people, of those who try to lay the last look at them before burying. We try to present them in the most acceptable feature.
KS: This kind of work is not easy to do. The things that you see are very bloody, very tragic. How do you deal with them personally? How do you deal with seeing the things you have to see?
RA: Everyday we have jobs, everyday. According to psychology, we are distorted, we are psychologically distorted because of what we see everyday. But through our strong will, we are trying to overcome what we see everyday.
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