Yesterday, the World Health Organization’s Director-General, Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, raised an urgent alarm about the dire state of healthcare in Gaza. Speaking to the United Nations Security Council, he painted a grim picture of a completely exhausted health system. Out of 36 hospitals in the region, half are now non-functional. This situation underscores the devastating impact of the ongoing conflict on healthcare infrastructure and the urgent need for international humanitarian assistance.
The WHO chief highlighted that the remaining operational hospitals in Gaza are overwhelmed with wounded and sick individuals. In a striking revelation, Dr. Ghebreyesus noted that surgeries are being performed without anesthesia due to the severe shortage of medical supplies. Furthermore, he reported over 250 attacks on health facilities in Gaza and the West Bank since October 7, exacerbating the crisis.
Ghebreyesus emphasized that the best way to support healthcare workers and patients is by providing essential resources, including medicines, medical equipment, and fuel for hospital generators. He reinforced his call for increased humanitarian aid through the Rafah Crossing and urged an immediate ceasefire to alleviate the suffering.
In a poignant statement, Dr. Ghebreyesus shared that more than 10,800 people have been killed in the Gaza sector, with approximately 70% being women and children. The staggering statistic that a child is killed every 10 minutes in Gaza brings to light the horrific human toll of the conflict.
The situation in Gaza worsened last Friday when the Ministry of Health announced power, water, and communication outages at the Indonesian Hospital in northern Gaza. This incident highlights the broader impacts of the conflict on basic utilities and services, further jeopardizing patient care.
As the conflict between the Israeli military and Palestinian factions in Gaza enters its eighth week, the Israeli military’s intense bombardment, including targeted attacks on hospitals like the Indonesian and Al-Shifa in Gaza, has drawn international, Arab, and Islamic condemnation, alongside Russia and China. Despite global calls for a ceasefire, the United States, the United Kingdom, Germany, and some Western countries continue to robustly support Israel. The U.S. has notably used its veto power in the Security Council to prevent resolutions that would compel Tel Aviv to cease its disproportionate warfare against the densely populated Gaza Strip, home to over two million people.
Israel’s unlimited support from the U.S. and Western allies has emboldened its actions, leading to controversial statements by an Israeli government minister about the potential use of nuclear weapons against Gaza and the indiscriminate targeting of civilians.
In response to the Israeli offensive, which has resulted in approximately 11,000 deaths and 26,000 injuries in Gaza, and the loss of over 1,400 Israelis in the “Al-Aqsa Intifada” initiated by Hamas on October 7, Israel claims its actions in Gaza are retaliatory. The conflict has also led to more than 163 Palestinian deaths and around 2,400 injuries in the West Bank.
This unfolding crisis in Gaza highlights the urgent need for international intervention and support to address the humanitarian catastrophe and rebuild the healthcare system. The world’s response to this call for aid could be a decisive factor in alleviating the suffering of thousands and restoring some semblance of normalcy to a region ravaged by conflict.
