In a harrowing turn of events, the World Health Organization (WHO) has shed light on the dire conditions plaguing hospitals in northern Gaza, where desperation and hunger have reached unprecedented levels. WHO Chief, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, described the distressing scenes witnessed during a recent mission to barely functioning medical facilities, painting a grim picture of suffering and scarcity. “Over 30,000 people in schools near Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis have no water, food or baby formula – Gaza Health Ministry”.
Source: Mint
WHO Statements on Gaza
Over the weekend, WHO-led missions ventured into the heart of the crisis, delivering vital aid to the decimated Al Shifa hospital, once a beacon of medical advancement in Gaza. However, what awaited the humanitarian teams was a scene of desperation and starvation, as people resorted to stripping aid trucks of supplies just to survive.
Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, in a statement conveyed via social media platform X, detailed the unfolding tragedy, emphasizing the escalating hunger crisis gripping the region. “Partners demand immediate scale-up of food and water to ensure population health and stability,” he stressed, underscoring the urgent need for humanitarian intervention.
Aid to Care not in Gaza
The conflict, which erupted following Hamas attacks on southern Israel, has exacted a heavy toll on Gaza’s population, with casualties mounting and resources dwindling. Israeli military assaults have ravaged the region, leaving hospitals like Al Shifa on the brink of collapse, unable to meet the overwhelming demand for medical care.
The delivery of 19,200 liters of generator fuel to Al Shifa offered a glimmer of hope amidst the chaos, yet Tedros cautioned that much more is needed to revive essential services and alleviate the suffering of thousands stranded in the hospital’s confines. With its oxygen plant destroyed and capacities severely strained, Al Shifa struggles to provide even the most basic forms of medical aid.
Sean Casey, a WHO Emergency Medical Teams coordinator who participated in the mission, recounted the dire conditions within Al Shifa, where overflowing surgery wards and overwhelmed staff bear witness to the magnitude of the crisis. “There’s the risk of famine,” Casey lamented, highlighting the stark reality facing Gaza’s populace.
In a poignant display of desperation, individuals seized food aid from delivery trucks en route to the hospital, underscoring the extent of the humanitarian catastrophe unfolding in Gaza. Tedros expressed deep concern over the plight of those driven to such extremes, acknowledging the torment that drives their actions.
Source: Common Dreams
The situation at Al Shifa serves as a microcosm of the broader nightmare engulfing Gaza, where shortages of essential supplies threaten the very fabric of society. From medicines to food, power to water, the basic necessities of life hang in precarious balance, imperiling the lives of countless individuals.
Beyond Al Shifa, other hospitals like Patient Friends Hospital and Sahaba and Helou maternity hospitals grapple with similar challenges, facing shortages of crucial resources vital for patient care. The lack of specialized surgeons, intensive care staff, and essential medications exacerbates an already dire situation, leaving healthcare facilities ill-equipped to cope with the influx of patients.
“Hospitals should be places for care and recovery, not danger and unrelenting suffering,” Tedros reiterated, echoing the urgent need for a ceasefire and sustained humanitarian access. As the crisis in Gaza deepens, the international community must rally behind efforts to alleviate the suffering of those caught in the crossfire, offering hope where there is despair and healing where there is pain. Only through concerted action can we stem the tide of suffering and bring solace to those most in need. Wish to end this crisis along with the War in the early phase.
https://plan-international.org/case-studies/how-aid-being-delivered-gaza/
