WHO chief says Gaza's Nasser Hospital running out of fuel, food
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The World Health Organization highlights that Gaza's Nasser Hospital is running out of fuel and food, as well as medical supplies, in light of the stifling blockade.
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Palestinians wounded in the Israeli bombardment of the Gaza Strip receive treatment at the Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis, Southern Gaza Strip, occupied Palestine, January 22, 2024. (AP)
The Nasser Hospital in southern Gaza is on the brink of a humanitarian catastrophe as it is running out of fuel, equipment, and even food, World Health Organization (WHO) chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said on Saturday.
With 350 patients and 5,000 displaced residents still inside the facility, essential resources such as fuel, food, and medical supplies are rapidly dwindling, which is bringing the entire hospital to the verge of collapse.
Israeli attacks have escalated in the vicinity of Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis, prompting hundreds of patients and health workers to evacuate the premises. The situation has become dire, as the ongoing Israeli aggression hinders access to and impedes the delivery of crucial supplies.
In a statement shared on X, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus emphasized the urgent need for a ceasefire to allow the replenishment of life-saving resources.
He also stressed the importance of a ceasefire so as to prioritize the well-being of the vulnerable individuals trapped in the hospital, stating, "We appeal for an immediate ceasefire so that we can replenish urgently needed lifesaving supplies."
The Israeli aggression has been committing genocide in the Gaza Strip for nearly four months now, with the population suffering major consequences as the war takes its toll on the people amid a stifling blockade.
Tearful recount of catastrophe
The war has resulted in the death of at least 26,257 Palestinians and injured 64,797 others.
The consequences of the Israeli aggression extend beyond the immediate loss of lives, with 85% of Gaza's population now internally displaced.
The entirety of the strip is grappling with acute shortages of food, clean water, and medicine. Furthermore, more than half of Gaza's infrastructure has been damaged or destroyed, amplifying the humanitarian crisis.
Speaking at the WHO Executive Board meeting in Geneva on Thursday, during a discussion on the health emergency in Gaza, Tedros described the conditions in Gaza as "hellish."
“I’m a true believer because of my own experience that war doesn’t bring a solution, except more war, more hatred, more agony, more destruction. So let’s choose peace and resolve this issue politically,” Tedros said.
Situation in Gaza 'beyond words'
The head of the WHO expressed difficulty in speaking, taking a moment to compose himself, and stated that it was challenging to find words to describe the situation in Gaza because it was "beyond words."
“Seventy percent of the dead (in Gaza) are children and women. That alone is enough for a ceasefire,” Tedros said.
