The WHO has raised alarms about the humanitarian crisis unfolding in Gaza as intensified military action and evacuations force medical facilities to near-breaking point, with claims of substantial infrastructural damage and severe shortages in medical supplies.
WHO Warns Gaza Health System on Verge of Collapse Amidst Intensified Israeli Operations
WHO Warns Gaza Health System on Verge of Collapse Amidst Intensified Israeli Operations
The World Health Organization alerts that Gaza's health infrastructure is critically compromised due to the ongoing Israeli offensive and evacuation orders, with numerous medical facilities severely impacted.
The escalating conflict in Gaza has plunged the health system into dire straits, prompting urgent warnings from the World Health Organization (WHO). Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus emphasized that intensified Israeli ground operations combined with new evacuation orders have rendered the healthcare framework on the brink of collapse. Significant medical facilities, such as the Kamal Adwan and Indonesian hospitals in northern Gaza, have either been completely or partially incapacitated due to ongoing hostilities, with reports highlighting their precarious circumstances.
The Indonesian hospital is reportedly inaccessible due to Israeli military presence in the vicinity, while the Kamal Adwan hospital has ceased operations amid rampant violence. Al-Awda hospital remains operational under duress but is under siege, facing continual threats including drone presence and nearby tank fire. Dr. Mohammed Salha, the hospital’s director, echoed the harrowing situation, indicating that they had no capacity to admit outside patients due to the intense conflict surrounding them.
Despite Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) claiming their operations are directed at ‘terror targets,’ WHO’s Dr. Tedros warned that health facilities are obstructed from functioning effectively, with military actions preventing both patients and medical staff from accessing care. Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) has disclosed that a minimum of 20 healthcare facilities have sustained damage or became entirely non-operational due to the persistent offensive.
With a striking increase in casualties, the health ministry in Gaza reported that over 600 individuals lost their lives and around 2,000 sustained injuries in just one week due to the renewed military engagement. UN reports indicate tens of thousands have been displaced, exacerbating the already critical humanitarian predicament. While Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu promised to allow limited food supplies to avert famine, critiques suggest that such measures are insufficient and superficial.
Compelling voices like Dr. Rik Peeperkorn, WHO’s representative, have highlighted the oppressive nature of the assaults on healthcare, noting a devastating lack of resources and overwhelming casualties at medical facilities. As hospitals grapple with severe shortages, the alarming impact of hostilities on access to healthcare becomes abundantly clear, fueling broader concerns for the well-being of Gaza’s civilian population.
The call for an end to the violence and for the protection of healthcare workers and facilities is echoing through humanitarian organizations, emphasizing the necessity for urgent and effective response mechanisms to avert further deterioration of the public health crisis in Gaza.
