Amidst the ongoing intense hostilities in Northern and Southern Gaza, World Health Organization (WHO) teams, in collaboration with partners, have embarked on perilous missions to deliver crucial supplies to hospitals.
These medical facilities not only grapple with overwhelming patient loads but also contend with overcrowding caused by individuals displaced by the conflict seeking refuge.
WHO Director-General, Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, reiterated the pressing need for the international community to take immediate action in addressing the perilous situation faced by the population of Gaza.
The crisis not only endangers the lives of the people but also hampers the ability of humanitarian workers to assist those with severe injuries, acute hunger, and heightened risks of disease.
In its most recent high-risk mission on December 26, WHO teams visited Al-Shifa Hospital in the north and Al-Amal Palestine Red Crescent Society in the south.
Both hospitals, aside from providing essential health services, also serve as shelters for displaced individuals seeking safety. Al-Shifa houses approximately 50,000 people, while Al-Amal accommodates 14,000.
At Al-Shifa, WHO delivered vital fuel to ensure the continuity of essential health services.
In collaboration with UNICEF, medical supplies were provided, and, in support of the World Central Kitchen NGO, materials were delivered to sustain a kitchen at Al-Shifa.
Additionally, medical supplies reached the Gaza Central Drug Store, designated as a medical supply hub for other hospitals, with ongoing support from WHO and its partners.
The situation at Al-Amal is dire, with recent strikes disabling the hospital’s radio tower and impacting the central ambulance dispatch system for the entire Khan Younis area, affecting over 1.5 million people.
WHO staff reported challenges navigating the hospital due to overcrowding, with limited functioning ambulances and inadequate facilities.
While traversing Gaza, WHO staff witnessed tens of thousands of people fleeing heavy strikes in Khan Younis and the Middle Area, highlighting the urgent need for humanitarian aid and the strain on health facilities.
Dr. Rik Peeperkorn, WHO Representative for the West Bank and Gaza, expressed extreme concern about the fresh displacement exacerbating the challenges faced by health facilities in the south.
The forced mass movement raises the risk of infectious diseases, overcrowding, and hampers humanitarian aid delivery.
Gaza currently has 13 partially functioning hospitals, 2 minimally functioning ones, and 21 non-functioning hospitals, including the partially functioning Nasser Medical Complex in Southern Gaza.
The potential evacuation of residential areas around critical hospitals further compounds the risk to health services.
WHO emphasized the acute need for food across the Gaza Strip, as hunger and desperation along convoy routes hinder the organization’s ability to supply crucial medicines, medical supplies, and fuel to hospitals.
Dr. Tedros stressed the immediate necessity of a ceasefire to protect civilians from further violence and pave the way for reconstruction and peace, citing that the recent United Nations Security Council resolution has yet to make a tangible impact based on WHO’s on-the-ground observations.
