Jenin, in the occupied West Bank of Palestine, was the site of a harrowing experience for Ahmad Nobane on April 4 last year. As a volunteer first responder, he was trying to reach an injured person in the Jenin refugee camp to administer aid. Despite receiving messages on his mobile phone guiding him to the victim’s location, he was shot by an Israeli sniper in the right side of his chest while walking the final 300 meters to reach the wounded man. Nobane, just 22 years old, managed to stop the bleeding and was eventually taken to the hospital after facing obstacles from the Israeli military.
Nobane, who lost his father during the second Intifada in 2002, decided to join the group of volunteers in the camp dedicated to saving lives. Despite recovering from his injuries, he continued his work as a paramedic volunteer, stating that they try to find life in the midst of death.
The situation in Jenin has become increasingly dangerous, with frequent raids by Israeli forces since the war in Gaza began, resulting in the destruction of homes and displacement of many residents. The first aid volunteers, equipped with tuk-tuks supplied by MSF, work tirelessly to transport the wounded to hospitals, facing challenges such as Israeli military roadblocks.
Despite the risks, the group of volunteer first responders remains dedicated to their mission, training in life-saving techniques and providing aid to those in need. Nobane, who has been injured multiple times during his work, believes in the importance of their efforts, stating that they are saving their own community members. With a lack of medical personnel on the ground, these volunteers play a crucial role in providing emergency assistance in the Jenin refugee camp.