Gaza Dentist Operates Out of a Tent Amid Siege and Destruction

Despite the stifling heat, Dr Rizq Sufyan Abo Halima treats patients in his tent to avoid paying exorbitant rents in Gaza City, Gaza Strip. The tent became a necessary alternative due to the high demand and low supply of properties caused by Israel's war, which made finding an affordable surgery impossible. "The stifling rise in temperatures was my first challenge," he explained to Al Jazeera, noting how he had to adjust the tent's corners to allow air circulation.

His previous clinic, Smile One in Sheikh Zayed City in northern Gaza, was bombed during the early days of the conflict in 2023. Although he built a new clinic in May of last year near his current location in Gaza City's al-Nasr neighbourhood, it was destroyed just three months later by Israeli forces. Consequently, he now performs emergency procedures in a tent close to the ruins. Frequent power outages further compound these daily operational challenges.

Finding another commercial or residential space is exceptionally difficult. According to the United Nations Satellite Centre (UNOSAT), more than four in five buildings in Gaza City and northern Gaza have been completely destroyed or severely damaged, and Israel's ban on building materials has prevented repairs. Before the war, Dr Rizq rented an apartment for 500 shekels ($166) per month, but remaining properties now cost closer to $1,000.

Choosing a tent keeps overhead costs low, allowing Dr Rizq to avoid passing excessive rent expenses onto patients facing severe financial hardships. He carefully sterilises his instruments and employs a security guard, despite the thin canvas offering minimal protection. Patient Yousef Abo Halima, 25, noted that while the heat is difficult, the alternative high costs in apartment clinics are unaffordable.

Meanwhile, Heba Rihan, a 23-year-old nursing graduate from Al-Aqsa University, joined the clinic in May after walking from the south of the Gaza Strip to the west in search of work. She frequently assists patients navigating the difficult financial realities of dental care under the current siege, highlighting instances where patients must choose tooth extractions over costly fillings due to severe economic constraints.