KRC and British embassy join hands with UK charity to train doctors for Gaza

• “In a world marked by conflict and suffering, particularly in Gaza, we recognize the urgent need for skilled medical professionals,” said Dr. Hilal Al-Sayer, President of the Kuwait Red Crescent Society.

On Saturday, March 30, the British Embassy Kuwait and the Kuwait Red Crescent Society jointly announced their intention to support the David Nott Foundation.

This UK-based medical charity specializes in training doctors working in conflict and natural disaster zones.

The collaboration aims to bring a team of expert surgeons and anaesthetists from the UK to deliver specialist ‘Hostile Environment Surgical Training’ to Kuwaiti medical teams. Subsequently, these trained medical teams will travel to Gaza to provide urgently needed assistance.

Her Excellency Belinda Lewis, the British Ambassador to the State of Kuwait, stated, “The UK government’s first partnership with the David Nott Foundation happening in Kuwait is a testament to the strong relationship between our two countries. This collaboration between British and Kuwaiti expertise will undoubtedly enhance the medical response to the suffering in Gaza. I am grateful for the assistance of several individuals in Kuwait who are helping to bring this expert team from the UK. Special thanks to Professor Ghassan Abu Sittar, a veteran war surgeon and humanitarian, who first suggested this valuable partnership to me.”

Tim Law, Chief Operating Officer at the David Nott Foundation, stated, “In response to the devastating escalation of violence in the Middle East and the humanitarian emergency unfolding in Gaza, the David Nott Foundation has already partnered with PalMed. We delivered two Hostile Environment Surgical Training UK (HEST-UK) courses, training many surgeons and anaesthetists who have since volunteered their skills in Palestine.”

“As long as the suffering in Gaza continues, we will continue to do all we can to support and upskill medical teams providing urgently needed assistance on the ground. Our commitment includes delivering our HEST-UK and new anaesthesia course to Kuwaiti doctors who plan to enter Palestine as humanitarian volunteers,” he added.

Dr. Hilal Al-Sayer, President of the Kuwait Red Crescent Society, stated, “Given the challenges facing Gaza and its people, we are proud to announce our collaboration with the David Nott Foundation. This partnership aims to enhance the emergency medical response capabilities of our volunteers. In a world marked by conflict and suffering, particularly in Gaza, we recognize the urgent need for skilled medical professionals. We extend our deepest gratitude to our esteemed doctors for their unwavering dedication and commitment to undergoing highly skilled training courses. These efforts will support them in addressing the needs of those who are suffering. We are also immensely grateful to our donors, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and the British Embassy for their invaluable support in facilitating this training course.”