https://arab.news/vrjgx
- At Al-Mowasah, also known as the Specialized Hospital for Reconstructive Surgery, is run by medical charity Doctors Without Borders
- MSF says the hospital has patients from conflict zones across the Middle East, such as Syria, Yemen, Iraq and Gaza
AMMAN: Shahd Tahrawi was wounded in an Israeli strike on Gaza, Hossam Abd Al-Rahman suffered burns in an explosion in Iraq and bombardment in Yemen has left Mohammed Zakaria in need of multiple surgeries.
They all met at the charitable Al-Mowasah hospital in the Jordanian capital Amman, which treats some of the many civilians wounded in conflicts across the Middle East.
鈥淚 feel sad when I look around me in this place鈥� seeing 鈥減eople like me, innocent, simple civilians鈥� whose lives have been blighted by the horrors of war, said Abd Al-Rahman, a 21-year-old Iraqi patient.
鈥淭hey are victims of war, burned by its fires... but had no part in igniting them,鈥� he told AFP.
He is waiting for his ninth operation at the Amman hospital, to treat third-degree burns to his face, neck, abdomen, back and hand he suffered in an accident with unexploded ordnance in his native city of Samarra, north of Baghdad.
鈥淚 was a child when I was burned 10 years ago,鈥� he said.
鈥淢y life was completely destroyed, and my future was lost. I left school even though my dream was to become a pilot one day.鈥�
Hanna Janho, orthopedic and joint surgery consultant examines a patient at the Al-Mowasah hospital, run by medical charity Doctors Without Borders (MSF) in Amman, on April 15, 2025. (AFP)
Abd Al-Rahman, who had 17 surgeries in Iraq before arriving at the hospital in Jordan, said that through 鈥渁ll these painful operations,鈥� he hopes to 鈥渞egain some of my appearance and life as a normal human being.鈥�
At Al-Mowasah, also known as the Specialized Hospital for Reconstructive Surgery and run by medical charity Doctors Without Borders (MSF), Abd Al-Rahman said he has found comfort in meeting patients from around the region.
鈥淲e spend long periods of time here, sometimes many months, and these friendships reduce our loneliness and homesickness.鈥�
MSF field communications manager Merel van de Geyn said the hospital has patients 鈥渇rom conflict zones across the Middle East, from Syria, Yemen, Iraq and Gaza.鈥�
鈥淲e provide them with complete treatment free of charge鈥� and cover the cost of flights, food and other expenses, she said.
In addition to the medical procedures, the hospital places great importance on psychological support.
鈥淗ere, they feel safe,鈥� said van de Geyn.
鈥淭hey鈥檙e surrounded by people who have gone through similar experiences... Mutual support truly helps them.鈥�
From her room on the hospital鈥檚 fifth floor, Shahd Tahrawi, a 17-year-old Palestinian, recalled the night of December 9, 2023, when a massive explosion destroyed her family鈥檚 home in Rafah, in the southern Gaza Strip.
The Israeli bombardment killed her father and 11-year-old sister, and left Shahd and her mother wounded.
Shahd has had five operations on her left leg, three of them in Jordan.
Shahd Tahrawi, who was wounded in an Israeli strike on the Gaza Strip, uses crutches to walk at the Al-Mowasah hospital, run by medical charity Doctors Without Borders in Amman, on April 15, 2025. (AFP)
She said that on the night of the strike, she was woken up by the sound of the explosion and the rubble falling on her.
鈥淚 started screaming, 鈥楬elp me, help me!鈥�... and then I lost conciousness.鈥�
Now, she said her dream was to become a doctor and help 鈥渟ave people鈥檚 lives, just like the doctors save mine.鈥�
The hospital was established in 2006 to treat victims of the sectarian violence that erupted in Iraq in the aftermath of the US-led invasion, but has since expanded its mission.
In just under two decades, 8,367 patients from Iraq, Yemen, the Palestinian territories, Sudan, Libya and Syria have undergone a total of 18,323 surgeries for injuries caused by bullets, explosions, bombardment, air strikes and building collapses in conflict.
The hospital has 148 beds, three operating theaters, and physiotherapy and psychological support departments.
Young patients, who sustained injuries in conflict zones, gather at the MSF-run Al-Mosawah hospital in Amman on April 15, 2025. (AFP)
In one room, four Yemeni patients were convalescing.
One of them, 16-year-old Mohammed Zakaria, had dreamt of becoming a professional footballer, before his life changed dramatically when an air strike blew up a fuel tanker in Yarim, south of the Yemeni capital Sanaa, in 2016.
The blast killed six of his relatives and friends, his father, Zakaria Hail, said.
鈥淭he war has brought us nothing but destruction,鈥� said the father, sitting next to his son who is unable to speak after recent surgery to his mouth.