Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, the Director-General of the World Health Organization (WHO), has called on Israel to remove restrictions on medical aid entering Gaza. He highlighted that the primary channel for emergency medical supplies into Gaza from Egypt has been blocked since Israel closed the Rafah border crossing on May 7. This closure has significantly disrupted the flow of essential aid and personnel in and out of the region.
During a press conference in Geneva, Tedros described the situation in Gaza as “beyond catastrophic,” urging Israel to end the blockade to allow humanitarian aid to reach those in desperate need. He emphasized that without an increased flow of aid, WHO cannot continue its critical support for hospitals and affected populations in Gaza.
According to Tedros, the blockade has severely impacted healthcare facilities in Gaza, with six hospitals and nine primary health centers losing their medical services and 70 shelters being stripped of their medical facilities. He noted a substantial decline in medical consultations and immunizations, estimating a 40% drop in consultations and a 50% reduction in immunizations.
The WHO chief also highlighted that approximately 700 severely ill patients, needing medical evacuation, are currently stranded in the conflict zone due to the closure. He mentioned that the Al-Awda Hospital in northern Gaza has been under siege, trapping 148 hospital staff and 22 patients. Additionally, nearby fighting has compromised the operational capacity of Kamal Adwan Hospital, also in northern Gaza, endangering its ability to provide necessary medical care.
Tedros stressed that these hospitals are among the last functional medical facilities in northern Gaza, underscoring the dire necessity for immediate international intervention to facilitate the flow of medical aid and protect healthcare services.
