Brussels (Brussels Morning Newspaper) – Caroline Willemen, Belgian emergency coordinator with Doctors Without Borders, returned from Gaza on August 29, 2025, after 2 months witnessing bombings, hospital strain, hunger, and the survival of boy Abdallah.
As HLN News reported, Caroline Willemen returned to Belgium on Friday, Aug 29, 2025, after spending 2 months in the Gaza Strip. She worked there as an emergency coordinator for Doctors Without Borders. During her time, she saw the effects of constant bombings on the people living in the region.
She mentioned that fear and hunger dominate daily life. Hospitals are under heavy pressure and struggle to treat the growing number of injured. Medical supplies and food are limited, making everyday survival a challenge.
“People live in constant fear,”
she said.
“They’ve been hearing for a while that Israel will invade and take over Gaza City. Meanwhile, there’s constant bombing. It’s hard to imagine what it’s like to live like that.”
She told the story of a boy named Abdallah, who was badly burned when a school he attended with his family was bombed. He suffered burns over 35% of his body. The attack killed his parents and 4 siblings.
“Do you understand how precious this child is?”
Willemen.
For Caroline Willemen, the crisis in Gaza is not just a humanitarian disaster but also a moral challenge for the world. She asks a question:
“Do you understand how valuable the people of Gaza are?”
According to her, the global response shows a lack of understanding or concern.
“What we see there is beyond words,”
Willemen said. The people of Gaza face constant bombings, and hunger is being used as a weapon on top of the violence.
“If we let this happen, it says a lot about ourselves.”
– Caroline Willemen
“How can people not understand that an attack on the humanity of the people of Gaza is also an attack on our own humanity?”
she asked. She added that if the world allows this suffering to continue, it reflects not only on the perpetrators but also on those who remain silent.
Caroline Willemen is a Belgian emergency coordinator with Doctors Without Borders (Médecins Sans Frontières). She has extensive experience in conflict zones and humanitarian crises, providing medical coordination, logistical support, and emergency care to civilians affected by violence.
Willemen has worked in several high-risk regions, including the Middle East and Africa, managing medical teams and ensuring critical supplies reach hospitals and emergency centres. Her work focuses on assisting vulnerable populations, particularly children and families caught in conflict. In June 2025, she travelled to the Gaza Strip for a 2-month mission to help civilians injured in the ongoing bombings.
