How newborn’s first cries gave Hong Kong nurse hope amid tragedy of Israel-Gaza war

But the 35-year-old midwife said it only took the first cries of a newborn baby to give her a small glimmer of hope amid widespread feelings of distress, frustration and helplessness in the region.

“It was May 8, we had our first normal delivery, and we all cried together … the more than 1,000 babies that were born [during my time there] were the blessing and joy of the people of Gaza,” she said.

“But still, there were many cases of stillbirth and premature birth because the pregnant women were often under immense stress and fleeing for their lives.”

So embarked on a six-week humanitarian mission to the war-torn Gaza Strip in May, the only medical volunteer from Hong Kong dispatched by Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF).

The nurse joined the mission hoping to empower underprivileged women living in developing countries, and was among those who helped reopen a major hospital previously stormed by Israeli forces.