WHO teams have undertaken high-risk missions with partners to supply hospitals in northern and southern Gaza as hostilities intensify, with large numbers of patients and conflict-displaced people sheltering in their vicinity.
“Today I reiterate my call to the international community to take urgent action to address the grave dangers facing the people of Gaza and to address the capacity of humanitarian workers to help those at risk of serious injuries, acute hunger and disease,” said Dr. Tedros Adhanom. Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General.
In WHO’s latest high-risk mission, the team visited two hospitals (al-Shifa in the north and al-Amal Palestine Red Crescent Society in the south) on Tuesday 26 December to assess supplies and availability. Demand on the ground.
Both hospitals serve as shelters for displaced people due to their relative safety. Al-Shifa Hospital has about 50,000 people, while Al-Amal has 14,000 people.
In Al-Shifa, WHO promotes essential health services activities. In addition to UNICEF, WHO provides treatment for hospitals. And provided materials to support a kitchen in Al-Shifa with the help of NGO partner World Central Kitchen. Medical supplies are also provided at the Gaza Central Pharmacy, which will serve as a medical supply center for other hospitals and will be supported by WHO and its partners.
In Al-Aml, colleagues witnessed the consequences of a recent strike that disabled the hospital’s radio tower and affected the central ambulance dispatch system for the entire Khan Younis area, affecting more than 1.5 million people. The hospital once had 9 ambulances, only 5 were working. WHO staff reported that it was impossible to enter hospitals without stepping on patients and asylum seekers. The Palestinian Red Crescent Hospital and the adjacent community building and training center have only a few functional bathrooms for the hospital’s dependents, staff and patients.
While passing through Gaza, WHO staff saw tens of thousands of people fleeing deadly attacks on foot, donkeys or vehicles in Khan Younis and the central region. Temporary shelters are being constructed along the road.
“WHO is very concerned that this new movement of people will put even more pressure on health facilities in the south, which are already struggling to meet the huge demands of the population,” said Dr Rick Peppercorn, WHO representative. At the WHO Office for the West Bank and Gaza. “This forced mass movement of people will lead to further overcrowding, increase the risk of infectious diseases and make it more difficult to deliver humanitarian assistance.”
According to the latest WHO assessment, Gaza has 13 partially functional hospitals, 2 minimally functional and 21 not functional at all.
Among them is the Nasser Medical Complex, which is the most important referral hospital in southern Gaza and is partially operational. Recent reports of evacuation orders for residential areas around hospitals are very alarming
“When military activity near the hospital intensifies, ambulances, patients, staff and WHO and its partners will not be able to reach the complex and this main hospital will be operational very quickly,” said Dr Pieperkorn. “This scene was often seen in the north. Gaza cannot afford to lose another hospital. “WHO is working to strengthen and expand existing health systems.”
WHO staff said on Tuesday that food demand is intensifying across the Gaza Strip. Hungry people stopped our caravan today again hoping for food.
WHO’s ability to deliver drugs, medical supplies and fuel to hospitals is increasingly hampered by hunger and desperation.
Dr. Tedros said: “The safety of our staff and the continuity of operations depend on immediately delivering more food to all of Gaza. I am receiving heartbreaking news that my own colleagues, like virtually everyone in Gaza, have been directly and personally affected by the conflict. “Our staff in Gaza are family members. lost ”
“Recent UN Security Council resolutions offer hope for improvements in the delivery of humanitarian aid to Gaza,” added Dr Tedros. “However, according to WHO testimony, the resolution has unfortunately not yet been implemented. We need a ceasefire now to protect civilians from further violence