Maiko Shirane, who worked in the Gaza Strip as a member of the international NGO Médecins Sans Frontières and returned to Japan after more than three weeks of evacuation, said in an interview with NHK, "I felt that ordinary daily life would be destroyed in an instant by conflict and war," and appealed for a ceasefire as soon as possible.
Ms. Shirane, who has been involved in a medical support project in the Gaza Strip, has been evacuating since the clashes between Israel and the Islamic organization Hamas on the 7th of last month, and evacuated to Egypt on the 1st of this month, and returned to Japan three days ago.
In an interview with NHK on the 3th, Shirane revealed his feelings two days after returning to Japan, saying, "When I returned to peaceful Japan after a month of not being able to live my normal daily life, I felt that peace is precious, and at the same time, I felt that ordinary daily life can be destroyed in an instant due to conflict and war."
He said that he had also contacted the Palestinian staff to return home, and said, "I am not easily happy for the staff who feel that their lives are in danger tomorrow, and I expressed my gratitude for their safe return and the support of the staff during the evacuation.
On the other hand, "the local staff said, 'We really don't have enough water or food, and we are scared of airstrikes. I want you to tell me that.'" While there is a shortage of supplies and normal medical care cannot be performed, they are continuing to provide as much treatment as possible at this moment, even though their lives are in danger," he said, complaining that the critical situation is deepening in the region.
On the other hand, regarding how the people of the Gaza Strip feel about Israel and Hamas, he said, "I didn't hear any hostile conversations from the local staff that it happened because of Hamas or because of Israel We are just living our daily lives the same as those of us Japan."
"I hope that the international community will continue to raise its voice and cease the war as soon as possible so that the people of Gaza can return to a day of peace and smiles as soon as possible, and I hope that a ceasefire will be reached as soon as possible Japan. He said that he wanted to widely convey the current situation in the Gaza Strip.