“The
target is the civilian population "
The war in Donbass has attracted thousands of
volunteers from many countries around the world, although all of them have not
gone to eastern Ukraine in order to join the battle. In the case of
humanitarian volunteers and health workers, whose visibility is lower, but
whose work is essential at a time when the shortage of qualified staff
endangers the population.
The Spanish doctor Javier Benitez, who travelled
to Donbass after graduation, is one of those volunteers. After passing through
the front, as physician in the area controlled by the brigade Prizrak first and the Donetsk airport area after ,we speak
now of his work in one of the hospital complex in the capital of the People's
Republic of Donetsk.
Since Medic in Donbass, Benitez gives, every
day, his personal views on the conflict, his work as a doctor and his
humanitarian work. Slavyangrad been able to talk with him from Donetsk to hear
his views on the day of the war, the suffering of civilians after months of
bombing and of a humanitarian crisis exacerbated by the Ukrainian blockade and
the almost exclusive dependence on Russian humanitarian aid.
*How you
pass from University to the war in Donbass in a few months?*
I graduated and had been following everything
that happened in Ukraine. It is a rather complicated conflict, but it is not very
difficult to take a position if it is simplified and leave aside the
geopolitical issues. There is a side that indiscriminately bombed civilians and
are also forming battalions of punishment, which is directing death squads in
the style of “Los Contras” de El Salvador. I think they want to make this as a
counterrevolutionary Central America, as spent some time ago there. Although there
are more interests, I have this position clear.
While I have been always growing I have seen on
TV like NATO and the United States are going to bomb countries. I do not know
how many I've seen a lot of bombing on television: Afghanistan, Syria, Libya,
Pakistan with drones. A lot of shelling. Sure, I've seen all through the TV. I
think I was isolated in my world, but that having ideals, those ideals have to
take shape in reality. And I decided to come here, not only for political
reasons but for humanitarian reasons.
*As a
doctor, you have direct contact with the most vulnerable population. How is the
civil population now?*
The civilian population is going deficiencies.
It is a little better than the beginning of the conflict, but they suffered a
lot of lacking. Especially when there are problems to stock up of basic goods
like can be fruit, vegetables, that sort of things. Myself, about a month ago,
I had health problems because not as fresh produce of any kind, everything is
canned. I had problems with electrolytes and that affected my heart. I guess
that also happens to civilians in general: access to fresh produce is hard
enough. And besides, even taking money, accessibility is difficult because they
are very expensive. However much money you have, it's very expensive.
*Is it
the Ukrainian blockade that closed the passage of products and you depend
almost entirely on what comes from Russia?*
We rely heavily on what comes from Russia, but
obviously there are things here. It is assumed that Ukraine has good farmland.
But what happens is that prices are astronomical and here people are not just
money. And it is difficult to access them even if they are in the supermarket.
In the supermarket not much and how little there is very expensive, so it
relies heavily for support, especially from Russia, and also some former Soviet
republics and some political parties.
*I guess with the banking blockade get money
is even more complicated. These days we are seeing as a playpen drama in
Greece, which can be removed only € 60 a day, but in Donbass people can not access
their money since November.*
I had not thought about this comparison, but
it's pretty good. it's complicated. Recently some banks operate, but only to
give pension money. I can not take money from banks, or my current account or anything. I do not have access to any kind of
money from abroad. However, it does pensioners may receive their pensions banks
here in rubles. For the rest of the people, if you want to get money, if you
have in your account, you normally have to go to Rostov.
Some civilians have, and knowing these people I
guess it's true, for example when pensioners crossing enemy lines to pick up
their money controlled by Ukrainian area, often when they come back the Ukrainians of the block post stolen them.
That's something I have not seen in first person, of course, but I've been in
block posts on our side. I've been in blockposts Novorrusia side and obviously the
civilian population is treated well. Even offering cigars, they offer cookies.
Money never is stolen. To me they have offered me money and obviously not money
of that people are caught. But those who come across, have suffered thefts and
sometimes even physical abuse.
*It's a
very complicated situation so is normal for the population to leave if you have
any choice. Have you noticed that in the hospital, there is shortage of doctors
and health professionals?*
Everyone who can, goes. Right now there is enough
deficit of doctors and nurses. In fact, if I remember correctly, yesterday a
fellow here, a fellow who was a doctor, who had finished the University and
went to Russia because Russia has more
prospects that here. Yes, there is a lack of personnel. It is also difficult to
maintain the facility because it is difficult to find products, cleaning and
disinfection of all kinds. As for drugs, there are drugs in this hospital. They
are all humanitarian aid. There are medications and products from Italy, Spain
and Russia, especially.
*I read
the other day that said that the European Union has allocated over 223 million
euros to the population affected by the war. There do you know that some
official EU aid has arrived?*
Official not. Official I have not seen anything
of the European Union. I would say yes, but I have not seen anything official.
I've seen things PCPE, if I'm not mistaken; I've seen things of Italy, but by
way of NGOs or private organizations or of Russia´s communists and from Russia as a state.
*And
international and humanitarian organizations like the Red Cross or Doctors
Without Borders help?*
The Red Cross, every time I step ... there's a
hotel here in Donetsk.
*Where
is the OSCE as well?*
Yes, almost every time I step out there are a
lot of cars and lots of OSCE Red Cross cars standing there. Every time I go is the
parking almost full, so they do not have to move much. Yes I have seen the Red
Cross, but only once, delivering aid in Kirovsk, at the front of Alchevsk. But
I don´t see much more.
In fact, for example, Doctors Without Borders,
I do not I get into whether it is true or not, the population sees them as
Westerners, including some see them as spies. Red Cross I can not say much
because only saw once handing things.
*Do you
feel a bit abandoned?*
Yes, totally abandoned. The aid is negligible. From
West at institutional level, nothing. Then yes, there are people and
organizations who command things which are usually leftists. That people does
help. But the West, at the level of states or organizations like the European
Union, we are totally abandoned.
*How do
the people feel being so isolated?*
They see that there are people who care about
them, such as international volunteers. And leftist organizations, all who are
against NATO and Western imperialism. These do know that we are with them. But,
those who send more aid are Russia and the former Soviet republics. The rest is
not much. And comparatively, I have no official information, but I guess it's a
pretty low percentage.
*How is
the work of a doctor in the war? In what situations have you been?*
I have been on the front. And as personal
experiences, beyond work, it has been quite hard. Bullets and bombs, I thought
that it would be the scariest going to give me, but eventually gave me the
same. The worst has passed me was cold. The cold and hunger. The bullets and
bombs, the fear that I felt that's just anecdotal. The worst thing is the cold
and hunger.
As for my work, I have been in total over a
month at the front. I've been in front of Alchevsk, I've been in Kirovsk, a few
kilometers from Debaltsevo. The experience is very complicated ... everything.
Lack of everything. Also keep in mind that I came here straight after college,
so it was difficult to gain experience, take practice. But I've felt that I've
helped. I have not saved all the lives I've wanted to save, but I've done
something.
*You
have been in front of Debaltsevo after the battle?*
It was after the battle, shortly after the battle
*During
the ceasefire, then. Was there really ceasefire someday?*
Roughly they bombed daily. I guess it would not
be so intense, but more or less bombarded daily. There was a day when bombarded
with Grad, which is supposedly prohibited. I was in a post block and the
information they gave us the people who came from the Ukrainian area is that
they were not retreating artillery as the Minsk agreement said.
*What do
people think Minsk agreement? Do you see it going somewhere?*
No, that is not going anywhere. People see that
this is going to take a while to finish, say 2 or 3 years. It is what people
usually say.
*So they can hold 2 or
3 years?*
No, people are tired of this. But also due to
the war as a geostrategic struggle between the West and Russia, BRICS, even
while having the capacity to attack and win, just for political reasons, from
this side it´s not done. And I suppose it's like from the other side. So right
now is absurd, war remains frozen.
Still attacks, still battles, but no major
breakthroughs. So there is a steady trickle of death. In fact, a few days ago,
Spartak, a village next to the airport were more than 10 dead on our side.
There is a steady trickle of deaths and some days there is more.
*And in
such a complicated situation, when you arrived ,you were an inexperienced
doctor. Have you been a novice doctor or you had to take very quick experience?*
In Alchevsk, I have been attending physician
upon arrival. When I arrived, there was a doctor. Well, there were two doctors,
one thirty-something and the other fifty-something. And those two were one
week. And when they left, I I was responsible for the health of 200 people,
more or less. That yes, I had to learn very fast. And I had to catch up on all
Russian medicines, how they are used and all. But as far as it goes, I was
fine. There was no death. There was a small epidemic of pneumonia, pneumonia,
cuts, bruises, a shrapnel wound. But I had no problems.
*It´s
lot of pressure for someone who has just arrived and has little experience to
be responsible for so many people.*
Yes, in the beginning itself. But once I've
learned about the treatment of pneumonia and all that with the Russians drugs,
and had no problem. But I spent a few days studying hard and with a lot of
pressure.
On the front I was lucky, there were few things
to do. There was a guy he just shot himself in the hand and had to heal. And
breathing problems and that sort of thing. And a partner, in a position before
ours, exploded a mine and he lost both feet.
The second time I was in front was near the
airport. And I was very lucky, were little things. There was no victims in my
group. Then I was in another position, which was not far from the airport. In
fact, we received quite strong attacks. But there was no regret any loss. They
were little things.
Also why I have come now to the hospital. As it
is not really having many wounds, the people I was going to the front, but have
not received strong attacks, so I have come to the hospital for further
learning. I do not know what I'll do in the future, I guess back to the front
sooner or later.
*How it
is working in a hospital in the capital of a city at war?*
In Spain doctors usually they not taught to
make intravenous injections or put catheters or anything like that, because it
is assumed that this is a task of nurses. But I'm not in front nurses, so I
have to do everything myself. So I'm learning right now that, to put catheters,
intravenous injections. And what I do is, in a small room in which we are, we
priests, especially shrapnel. All I've seen is shrapnel and some burned.
*What
are your plans for the future?*
My life is a mess because not depends of me. It
depends on a lot of external factors. I for now I will stay here, because I can
not go anywhere. Even if I wanted I could not leave. My visa for Russia
expired, so if I go to Russia now ... Obviously, it depends on how it's done.
If I go with a paper justifying my stay here, I've been aid, supposedly would
have many problems. But there can be problems. And once I get to Russia and inside
Russia I can move from Russia to somewhere, I do not know where to go. In my
country I do not know if would go to jail. It depends.
*Do you
think you would have legal problems in Spain although they are there as a
doctor?*
Hm. It is that simply by having a mere
suspicion, and does not compensate me go. Because obviously I can not risk
having impeached and want me get ten years in prison. The price you pay is very
high. Then, until the situation is not entirely clear, I can not go back. Right
now, to tell you the truth, I do not know what would happen to me. I'm in this
ambiguity, I do not know. I have photos of uniform, but can not go ahead
otherwise.
In front I can not go with anything that
attracts attention because there are snipers. I saw Polish mercenaries,
European mercenaries, American mercenaries, in addition to the people here.
Obviously, these people pass the Geneva Conventions where they pass it, so it would be a moving
target. I do not know if you saw the photo where I go out with an ambulance
that is bored.
*Is it
something recent or there is no material to fix these things?*
They do odd jobs. Many shoddy become. The holes
that you see in the ambulance are supposedly what they have done is to weld a
bit and that's it. Many shoddy become. I can not tell you the exact date, but
it was a little over a month, I think. In fact, among physicians there was a
decline by a sniper in January or February. A sniper eliminated a doctor here.
So I can not go with a white coat.
*What
shortcomings there right now in hospitals?*
Missing a bit of everything. In fact, I'm
hoping they give me a list of everything that is needed so that it can post and
that people can send what you can. Antibiotics are few, there are many doctors
either. I do not know, Betadine. Betadine was not yesterday, I had to pick one
I brought I of Spain. That kind of things.
*And
people with chronic diseases, which needs constant treatment?*
This is fatal. It is fatal for them. In
Alchevsk I treated people with chronic diseases. There was one who had epilepsy
and epilepsy have to carry a fully regularized treatment and take it ever, if
not, seizures may return. And this person was wearing three months without
taking it because there not was. I got lucky and found what I needed and I
could give back. But I gave him two
boxes. That will last a while and then will end. Then you have to look for it
and do not know whether or not find.
People with problems of tension, that people
have to take their medication every day. And in this situation you do not know
whether to get a convoy with medicine or not you arrive. And you go to the
pharmacy and are empty shelves and people with chronic illnesses have many
problems. Especially older people, who are the most chronic diseases have, yes
it is quite black. Recently I was with an older woman, who is not in the
hospital, but one next door, which had leukemia. I do not remember what kind it
was, but there was not the drugs that she need, so she will die.
Such diseases, that need medication every day
for the rest of life ... those are the people who are going to have more
problems. Because It depends on who has a constant supply of that medication,
which currently does not exist.
*These
people are condemned to die of these diseases.*
Yes. Unless you get lucky and they arrive
medicines, yes. I now am in a big city and this is where the convoys come, but
I have been in villages and also the situation there is different. There is
much greater shortages, obviously. And yes there are people who that unfortunately is doomed to die.
*Lack of
medicines and shortage appears as problematic as the war.*
I can not give you exact figures, because there
are none. It is obviously much easier to count the casualties by shots or bombs
that for lack of medicines, for lack of food or lack of adequate food. It is
much more difficult because if you see a person with one shoot, you know what
is dead and you can put on a record.
A person who has died from other things,
malnutrition, malnutrition or chronic disease by lack of medicine, that is not
quantified. So you can not give official figures of any kind, but I think it's
a pretty big, especially in the rural problem.
And rural people, old people. I would like to
have figures, because this must be said with public health figures, increased mortality,
mortality rate, but no official figures exists. In fact, they have begun to count
the victims, by gunfire and bombs not very far ago. I do not know how much will
have to wait or if it was ever going to do someday quantify deaths from
shortages of both medicines, such as food and such products.
*Is
there still bombing infrastructure, electrical, water? At the beginning of the
war there was talk of a lot of destruction of civilian infrastructure, with the
problems that entails.*
They usually go for the civilian population.
But other than that, the problems that previously could be permanent, such as
water or electricity, now have become punctual. Before coming to the hospital I
was in a base and was a weekend that bombed the water treatment plant and we
were without water a couple of days. Not only the military area but also the
entire civilian population. There are also power outages from time to time, but
the situation is better than before in terms of infrastructure.
You are trying to harm civilians even higher
than they are military objectives. I think that the priority is the civilian
population. When I was in Alchevsk there was a multi-storey building, a hotel,
and was where the militia were. Everyone knows, of course. It is not a secret.
People knew. But the Ukrainian regime, instead of bombing the building was
bombed everything is the city except that building. Even preferred bombing
civilians while having easy access to bomb military. It will, in my opinion,
harden the conflict.
That will benefit the Nazi battalions, which
are the usual bomb. Because if you bombard civilians, they reacts defending,
more people enlisted in the army and people react violently. And then the
conflict hardens, becomes crude. No more hatred, more people get into the
militias, the more he attacks Ukraine. And the fascists and fascist parties
benefit when units have even more attacks on our side, which sometimes land
this side wins and becomes more violent because it gives them more power to
them, giving them more resources and gives more international support. So it
ends up being more power.
*Do many
difference is seen between the regular army and volunteers battalions?*
A lot. There is no comparison. Volunteers
battalions in quotes, because they also have a heavy load of mercenaries, they
want to intensify the conflict. I can tell that I was in a village near the
airport. I was there a couple of weeks or three and the whole floor was full of
shells. They were unexploded shells. Then I asked my companions, why not
exploit the shells? I said no, they are defective.
But actually it makes no sense. As much to be
defective, or many years ago, a percentage much larger would have to explode.
Then I talked to more people who are more informed on the subject, with
journalists, and was told that the Ukrainian regular armed forces even before
throwing bombs. They throw the shell and the shell hits the ground and you're
done. And not explode. This explains why the whole floor was full of unexploded
shells, full of unexploded bombs. It makes no sense. Occasionally one arm,
because they also have to explain to his superiors and not only to their
superiors, they may be more or less benevolent, but also the Nazi forces that
are in the rear.
Those people do not have any compassion or any
kind of problems in removing them. Of course, the regular forces, I think they
know they are bombing their brothers and often not assemble the bombs. But it
is very different with the Nazis battalions. Nazi battalions bombed, robbed,
systematically looted the entire population where they enter, rape women. This
does not appear in the media.
When I was in the front of Alchevsk, I saw that
there is not only victims in this side but also on the Ukrainian side. The
regular forces give me pretty bad, because there are many who do them will not
come this conflict and they are against it and do not want to bomb your
brothers. But of course, you have some Nazi battalions behind will kill you if
you do what you're supposed to do. On the front of Alchevsk there were two
Ukrainian lines: an era of regular forces and a battalion was Aidar, I think.
When I was there, there were several days that the regular forces began to kill
with the Nazis, which is common, relatively. They bombarded each other and
shoot each other.
*Usually
it mentions there infighting among the battalions, but as rumors of foreign
mercenaries, it is difficult to confirm. Are they only rumors?*
Yes, I've seen it with my own eyes. The Aidar
mortar battalion destroyed a tank, or BMT, shielded regular forces in front of
Kirovsk vehicle. And at a position near the airport, there were the Poles ahead
of us mercenaries, 400m and had the Polish flag hoisted. Obviously it is very
difficult to prove all such claims, but I have seen with my own eyes.
*One
problem for international volunteers is language. And you deal directly with
local people. How do you deal with the language?*
At first I was with a colleague who spoke
Russian with him as a translator. Then we went distributing the work, when I
was in Alchevsk. We saw patients, he talked with them and I prepared the
medication. He spoke with them and I bandaged them and stuff. We would share
the work. And I've recently moved enough with Spaniards in Donetsk.
Before I learned some Russian, but not enough.
Then I got sick and spent two and a half weeks in the hospital with heart
problems and in that time is when I learned Russian. Now as I'm in the hospital
surrounded by Russians, I'm learning a lot, at least basic conversations. It's
complicated, but I like it because it is very different and I'm learning
everything I can.
Despite the difficulties and the risk of health
professionals from hospitals in Donbass they continue their work. Javier
Benitez has the details of this work in “Medic in Donbass”.
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