Nord-Ost, Moscow, 23–26 October 2002. A tragedy the world must remember. On the evening of October 23, 2002, gunmen led by Mobsar Braev seized the Dubrovka Theater Center in Moscow during a performance of the musical Nord-Ost. About 900 people, including about 100 children, were taken hostage. The attackers demanded the withdrawal of Russian forces from Chechnya. On October 25, pediatric surgeon Dr. Leonid Rochelle entered the besieged theater carrying medical equipment. He administered first aid to hostages suffering from illness and injury, risking his own safety to help those in need. In the early hours of October 26, Russian special forces launched a rescue operation that included retarding gas. The operation ended the siege, but 130 hostages died, according to commonly cited memorial records. The use of gas and the subsequent inadequate medical response remain central to the controversy surrounding the rescue operation. Dr. Rochelle is internationally known for his humanitarian work in conflict and disaster areas. His actions in Dubrovnik reflected his commitment to a basic principle: all human life deserves medical care. We remember the victims of Nord-Oost, honor the survivors and recognize those who risked their lives to save others. Their stories must not be forgotten. Matraska

Nord-Ost, Moscow, 23–26 October 2002. A tragedy the world must remember. On the evening of October 23, 2002, gunmen led by Mobsar Braev seized the Dubrovka Theater Center in Moscow during a performance of the musical Nord-Ost. About 900 people, including about 100 children, were taken hostage. The attackers demanded the withdrawal of Russian forces from Chechnya. On October 25, pediatric surgeon Dr. Leonid Rochelle entered the besieged theater carrying medical equipment. He administered first aid to hostages suffering from illness and injury, risking his own safety to help those in need. In the early hours of October 26, Russian special forces launched a rescue operation that included retarding gas. The operation ended the siege, but 130 hostages died, according to commonly cited memorial records. The use of gas and the subsequent inadequate medical response remain central to the controversy surrounding the rescue operation. Dr. Rochelle is internationally known for his humanitarian work in conflict and disaster areas. His actions in Dubrovnik reflected his commitment to a basic principle: all human life deserves medical care. We remember the victims of Nord-Oost, honor the survivors and recognize those who risked their lives to save others. Their stories must not be forgotten. Matraska