Lebanese emergency workers risk lives to aid civilians during ongoing Israeli attacks

John Yang:

The war between Israel and the Iran-backed group Hezbollah has claimed more than 1,000 Lebanese lives, including 40 emergency workers. The latest victims were two civil defense workers who were buried today.

They were killed in Nabatieh, a southern town within an area of Lebanon the Israeli Defense Forces have placed under evacuation orders. The evacuation zone now extends up to the Zahrani River.

Special correspondent Simona Foltyn and videographer Adrian Hartrick traveled to Nabatieh for this report.

Simona Foltyn:

This is what Southern Lebanon under Israeli evacuation orders looks like, empty streets lined with shuttered stores, bombed-out buildings and burned cars. Just about the only vehicles on the road are ambulances racing to save the war's survivors but they have not been spared by Israeli bombs.

Hussain Fakih leads the Civil Defense in Nabatieh.

Hussain Fakih, Lebanese Civil Defense (through interpreter):

This is the station. The strike happened over there. All these vehicles belong to our employees. These were our living quarters that are now unusable.

Simona Foltyn:

On March 17, an Israeli strike hit a building just 10 yards from the Civil Defense; 12 emergency workers were injured. It happened three days after the IDF said that ambulances were used by Hezbollah for military purposes, a claim for which it provided no evidence.

Hussain Fakih (through interpreter):

We were surprised because we are the Civil Defense. We are supposed to be guaranteed civilian protection.

Simona Foltyn:

The Lebanese Civil Defense is a public emergency service that operates under the Lebanese state. They rescue people from underneath the rubble and put out fires caused by bombardment.

Hussain Fakih (through interpreter):

Usually, we are 32 in the station, but 15 were on a rescue mission, which reduced the number of casualties.

Simona Foltyn:

Do you have any idea what was inside the building that was targeted?

Hussain Fakih (through interpreter):

It's right in front of us. It's a residential building. There's nothing there. But since it's just 10 yards from us, you could say that we were directly targeted.

Simona Foltyn:

As we speak, the shelling draws near, and Hussain is getting nervous.

Hussain Fakih (through interpreter):

The planes are coming, so let us get out of here. Let's go up to the hospital.

Simona Foltyn:

We just heard two airstrikes that were relatively close. One of them, we could actually feel the shockwave, so we're going to leave this place and head to the hospital.

The Nabih Berri Governmental Hospital is located on a hill overlooking the town. Seeking sanctuary from Israeli strikes, first responders have set up camp in the hospital's parking lot.

Since the war escalated three weeks ago, Israel has killed 42 emergency workers and injured 119 as part of what the Lebanese Ministry of Health called the deliberate targeting of medical workers and facilities.

Dr. Ali Omeis is in charge of the emergency room. He takes us to see a first responder who was injured during a rescue operation. Ahmed suffered burns to his face and hands. He allowed us to film his injuries, but didn't want to be interviewed. He twitches with pain as the nurse cleans the wounds, a colleague holding his feet instead of hands in support.

Dr. Ali explains what happened.

Dr. Ali Omeis, Emergency Supervisor, Nabih Berri Hospital (through interpreter):

There was an airstrike, but the projectile didn't explode. The Civil Defense were evacuating the targeted building.

Simona Foltyn:

But then there was an explosion, possibly due to a second strike.

Dr. Ali Omeis (through interpreter):

Ahmed was injured and sustained second- and third-degree burns.

Simona Foltyn:

The hospital has received more than 300 casualties this month.

Dr. Ali Omeis (through interpreter):

We are on the front lines of the war here in Nabatieh, and this area is being targeted every day. Most of the cases that are coming are civilians, children and first responders.

Simona Foltyn:

The facility is normally staffed with 150 medics. Only 20 are left to cover the 24-hour shifts. They sleep at the hospital because the roads have become too dangerous.

It's quite an eerie atmosphere here at the Nabih Berri Hospital in Nabatieh, which is one of the largest in Lebanon's south. Normally, its halls would be bustling with patients, but after Israel placed much of Lebanon on south under forced evacuation orders, most of the population has left. The hospital staff, however, are holding out and have become the lifeline of the civilians who have chosen to stay behind.

Dr. Ali sent his wife and two young girls to the capital, Beirut, when the war began and hasn't seen them since.

Dr. Ali Omeis (through interpreter):

I haven't taken a day off to see my family, and I won't until the war is over because I don't want to put them at risk. If I were to come and go to Beirut from the south, a conflict zone, this might be considered suspicious by the enemy, so I will rather endure being away from them.

Simona Foltyn:

There are no guarantees the hospital and its staff won't come under fire. A few days ago, Israel hit a building just 200 yards away. The shockwave shattered windows and brought down ceilings.

Dr. Hassan Wazni, Nabih Berri Hospital (through interpreter):

The shelling has been close to the hospital, not directly at the hospital. I don't know if they were targeting someone or if it was a message.

Simona Foltyn:

Despite Israel's forced evacuation orders, director Hassan Wazni is determined to stay put.

Dr. Hassan Wazni (through interpreter):

We, as a hospital, under international law, we are working under all conditions, war or peace. So we are staying here and we will continue to work.

Simona Foltyn:

But international law no longer offers the protection it once did. Israel has already struck five medical facilities in three weeks, a figure that is bound to rise, as the war shows no sign of slowing.

For the "PBS News Hour," I'm Simona Foltyn in Nabatieh, Southern Lebanon.

John Yang:

The "News Hour" requested comment from the Israeli Defense Forces on the strikes in Southern Lebanon detailed in Simona's report. They did not respond.