WHO chief says ‘critical’ to protect hospitals in Gaza
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This comes after a WHO delegation visited Al-Aqsa Hospital in central Gaza and the Nasser Hospital in southern Khan Younis.
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Palestinians wounded in the Israeli bombardment of Gaza brought to Al-Aqsa Hospital in Deir al-Balah on January 7, 2024 (AP)
The president of the World Health Organization (WHO) has urged for the protection of healthcare facilities in central and southern Gaza, as the number of Palestinians killed in the Israeli aggression nears 24,000.
Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus made the statements on Sunday after a WHO delegation had visited the Al-Aqsa Hospital in central Gaza and the Nasser hospital in southern Khan Younis the day before.
Ghebreyesus stated that the hospitals "require sustained support and protection to remain operational," emphasizing that "increased hostilities in the south of the Strip" make it harder for aid to reach them.
Yesterday, @WHO and partners visited Al-Aqsa Hospital in the middle area, and Nasser Medical Complex in Khan Younis, vital lifelines for patients and thousands of displaced people in #Gaza.
— Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus (@DrTedros) January 14, 2024
These facilities require sustained support and protection to remain operational. The… pic.twitter.com/ZQlkSj3OYZ
This comes as the number of injured Palestinians in Gaza has surpassed 60,000, and the healthcare system is on the brink of collapse.
According to the WHO, just 13 of Gaza's 36 hospitals are now partially operational, with most experiencing significant shortages of basic supplies and fuel and occupancy rates far exceeding their thresholds.
Beyond the losses caused by the shelling, "Israel's" blockade, damage to critical infrastructure, and displacement of 1.9 million people, many of whom are in overcrowded shelters, are generating a public health disaster.
During a news conference at Al-Shifa Medical Complex on Saturday, Gaza Health Ministry officials revealed that just six ambulances were now working and emphasized that running critical services like intensive care units has gotten harder.
According to the World Health Organization, the whereabouts of 600 patients and health staff at Gaza's Al-Aqsa Hospital remain unknown.
The president of the UN Organization for Palestinian Refugees has warned that the clock is "ticking fast toward famine" in Gaza, as the war on Gaza enters its 100th day.
Without explicitly criticizing "Israel" for what he called a "man-made disaster", UNRWA chief Philippe Lazzarini stated Saturday that the crisis had been exacerbated by dehumanizing language and the use of food, water, and fuel as weapons of war.
UNRWA, furthermore, called the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Gaza, which has killed nearly 24,000 Palestinians and displaced nearly 2 million more Palestinians – one of the world’s “most complex and challenging” operations.
Lazzarini called the massive death toll and destruction a "stain" on shared humanity, acknowledging that the living conditions in the strip are "inhumane" and noting that the spread of disease is rampant as Gazans attempt to survive.
The massive destruction, displacement, hunger & loss of last 100 days are staining our shared humanity
— UNRWA (@UNRWA) January 14, 2024
The humanitarian operation has become one of the most complex & challenging in the world
Due to tight siege on #GazaStrip, aid delivered is not nearly enough to meet the needs pic.twitter.com/5MQn3yNe9I
