Hidden heroes of the war: Medical workers

Mistefa Xalid is a medic from Manbij. He is part of a 4-person medical unit. Kerem İbrahim is an ambulance driver. Both are on duty in the Wrath of Euphrates operation, and both are as determined as the fighters.

The war balances don’t mention them. Their names are not cited in victory or defeat, but they are the bridges to life who pop up beside the fallen in the death fields. They are the ones who stand by the wounded, the martyrs and those on their way to martyrdom. They are the medical units with the modest means for the SDF fighters. Some are doctors, some are medical technicians, some are ambulance drivers, some are medical students, and some are first aid units who could be useful in this department. The medical units of the SDF push the limitations of speed, time, space and means to save a life, a limb or sometimes just a breath. They run from front to front, trench to trench, 24 hours a day. They march onto death, because they are also ready to be fighters, if the need arises.

 

“I HAD PROMISED DURING MANBIJ”

Mistefa Xalid is a medic from Manbij. He has been part of a 4-person medical unit for a month in the Wrath of Euphrates operation, and he spoke to the ANF about why he was at the war front as an Arab from Manbij. “The people of Manbij suffered a lot under ISIS gangs. And back then I promised myself, if my city is saved from these gangs, I will carry out any duty given to me,” said Xalid and continued: “I can understand what the people went through under the rule of ISIS gangs. That is why I’m here. My goal is to support the fighters here, and save these people from ISIS gans as soon as possible.”

FIRST AID FOR WOUNDED FIGHTERS

Xalid said they tried to provide medical units for all areas despite the rough conditions and a lack of resources, human capital and medical supplies, and added that they provided first aid for the wounded soldiers coming in from the front, then referred them to Manbij or Kobanê according to the situation.

"SPEED IS ESSENTIAL"

Kerem İbrahim is an ambulance driver. When a wounded fighter makes it to the ambulance, he is the one all eyes turn to. “Our work is based on speed, because our main goal is to rush every wounded fighter to the hospital as fast as possible,” said Ibrahim but added that speed alone is not enough.

"THE FIGHTER MUST BE LIFTED"

Ibrahim knows the importance of speed and safety from accidents and said: “Our ambulances have been raked through by ISIS countless times. But we can not go back. Whatever happens, our duty is to lift the fighter from the conflict zones.”