After Gaza, WHO sounds alarm on health crisis in occupied West Bank
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The UN health agency calls for the "immediate and active" protection of civilians and health care in the occupied West Bank.
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Israeli military vehicles surround an ambulance at the entrance of Jenin in the occupied West Bank, during a raid on June 13, 2024. (AFP)
The World Health Organization (WHO) on Friday said it remains concerned about the escalating health crisis in the occupied West Bank, where increasing restrictions, violence, and attacks on health infrastructure are severely hindering access to care.
In a statement, the UN health agency called "for the immediate and active protection of civilians and health care in the West Bank."
The WHO highlighted that since the start of the war in Gaza on October 7, there has been a significant rise in violence in the West Bank, including the eastern part of al-Quds, resulting in the martyrdom of 521 Palestinians by June 10, including 126 children.
However, the Palestinian Ministry of Health has reported that at least 545 Palestinians have been killed in the region at the hands of the Israeli occupation forces or settlers since October 7.
WHO concerned about escalating health crisis in West Bank
— World Health Organization (WHO) (@WHO) June 14, 2024
WHO remains concerned about the escalating health crisis in the occupied Palestinian territory, including the West Bank, where attacks on health infrastructure and increased restrictions on movement are obstructing access… pic.twitter.com/740dWNLMQA
The agency mentioned that over 5,200 people, including 800 children, have been injured, adding to "the growing burden of trauma and emergency care at already strained health facilities."
The WHO also reported an increase in attacks on healthcare in the West Bank, pointing out that from October 7 to May 28, it had documented 480 attacks on health facilities and ambulances, as well as the detention of health workers and patients, resulting in 16 deaths and 95 injuries.
It added that checkpoint closures, rising insecurity, and sieges of entire communities are increasingly restricting movement within the West Bank, further complicating access to medical care.
The WHO warned that a longstanding fiscal crisis, exacerbated since October 7 by "Israel's" increased withholding of tax revenue intended for the West Bank, is further straining healthcare services.
According to the UN health agency, this has led to "health workers receiving only half of their salary for nearly a year and 45% of essential medications being out of stock."
Hospitals are currently operating at about 70% capacity, the WHO emphasized, adding that it has become more challenging for patients to seek medical care outside the West Bank, with 44% of requests to access facilities in the eastern part of al-Quds and 1948 occupied Palestinian territories being denied or pending since October 7.
Read more: 'Israel' arrested 9,170 Palestinians in West Bank since October 7
