Palestine has experienced a new wave of mass relocation as a result of war, overcrowding in medical facilities, and food shortages.
Teams from the World Health Organisation have embarked on risky missions to bring supplies to hospitals in Northern and Southern Gaza, where they have observed intensive hostilities, a high patient volume, and congestion brought on by displaced individuals seeking safety. These operations have been carried out in collaboration with partners.
The Director-General of WHO, Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, said, "Today I repeat my call on the international community to take urgent steps to alleviate the grave peril facing the population of Gaza and jeopardising the ability of humanitarian workers to help people with terrible injuries, acute hunger, and at severe risk of disease."
Teams visited two hospitals on Tuesday, December 26—Al-Shifa in the north and Al-Amal Palestine Red Crescent Society in the south—as part of WHO's most recent high-risk mission. Their goals were to provide supplies and evaluate the conditions on the ground.
In addition, both hospitals act as shelters for displaced individuals looking for some level of safety. There are reportedly 14,000 individuals in Al-Amal and 50,000 at Al-Shifa Hospital who are seeking sanctuary.
WHO provided fuel to Al-Shifa in order to maintain vital health services. WHO also provided medical supplies for the facility together with UNICEF. Additionally, the World Central Kitchen sent supplies to support a kitchen in Al-Shifa in support of its NGO partner. Additionally, medical supplies were sent to the Gaza Central Drug Store, which will serve as a centre for distributing medical supplies to other hospitals under the assistance of WHO and its partners.
Colleagues at Al-Amal witnessed the fallout from recent strikes that damaged the hospital's radio tower and disrupted the central ambulance despatch system, which served over 1.5 million people in the Khan Younis region. Just five of the hospital's original nine ambulances are still operational. It was difficult for WHO officials to move around the hospital without tripping over patients and people who were looking for safety, they reported. For the benefit of those seeking sanctuary there, hospital staff, and patients, there are very few working restrooms in the hospital, surrounding community buildings, and PRCS training facilities.
WHO officials saw tens of thousands of people fleeing on foot, in cars, or on donkeys from the Khan Younis and Middle Area during their transit through Gaza. Along the route, improvised shelters were being constructed.
Dr. Rik Peeperkorn, WHO Representative in WHO's office for the West Bank and Gaza, stated, "WHO is extremely concerned this fresh displacement of people will further strain health facilities in the south, which are already struggling to meet the population's immense needs." "This forced mass migration will exacerbate the already existing problems of overcrowding, raise the risk of infectious diseases, and complicate the delivery of humanitarian aid."
The most recent WHO assessments state that there are 21 hospitals in Gaza that are completely non-functional, 2 that are marginally functional, and 13 that are partially functional.
Among these is the partially operational Nasser Medical Complex, the most significant referral hospital in Southern Gaza. It is quite alarming to learn that there have been recent orders for residential areas near the hospital to be evacuated.
"This important hospital will rapidly become barely functional when military activities near the hospital intensify because ambulances, patients, staff, WHO, and partners won't be able to reach the complex." Dr. Peeperkorn stated. "In the North, we saw this situation far too frequently. Gaza cannot bear to lose any more medical facilities. WHO is attempting to improve and broaden the currently faltering healthcare system.
Additionally, according to a Tuesday assessment from WHO officials, there is still a severe food shortage in the Gaza Strip. Today, we saw convoys halted by hungry people who were attempting to obtain food.
The hunger and despair of people we encounter both inside hospitals and on the way there is placing increasing pressure on WHO's capacity to provide fuel, medical supplies, and medications to hospitals.
Dr. Tedros stated: "More food needs to be delivered to Gaza urgently for the safety of our workers and the ongoing activities. Like almost everyone else in Gaza, my own coworkers are also being immediately and personally impacted by the violence. I keep getting devastating reports about family members of our Gaza workers passing away.
Dr. Tedros continued, "The recent resolution passed by the UN Security Council seemed to offer hope of an improvement in the distribution of humanitarian aid within Gaza." Sadly, the resolution has sadly not yet had an impact, according to WHO eyewitness reports from the scene. A ceasefire is desperately needed right now to protect civilians from any violence and start the protracted process of peace and restoration.
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