The World Health Organization (WHO) has issued urgent warnings as the situation in Gaza reaches a critical point, with a senior official declaring that conditions are rapidly worsening due to intensified Israeli bombings in the southern regions of Khan Younis and Rafah.
Richard Peeperkorn, the WHO representative in Gaza, addressed reporters via video link on Tuesday, expressing deep concern about the escalating crisis. Peeperkorn highlighted the inadequacy of humanitarian aid reaching Gaza, emphasizing that the current assistance is “way too little.” He underscored the vulnerability of the densely populated enclave’s health system, particularly as more people are forced to move further south to escape the intensifying bombings.
“The situation is getting worse by the hour,” Peeperkorn emphasized, drawing parallels to the dire conditions experienced in the northern part of Gaza, which faced heavy bombings and severe disruptions to humanitarian supplies. He warned against a repetition of such a pattern, stressing, “I want to make this point very clear that we are looking at an increasing humanitarian disaster.”
Thomas White, Director of Affairs at the U.N. Palestinian agency in Gaza, reported that a population exceeding 600,000 has been instructed to relocate to avoid bombardment. Expressing concern about Rafah, which already hosts a substantial number of internally displaced people, White noted that doubling its IDP population would overwhelm the area.
James Elder, spokesperson for the United Nations children’s agency UNICEF, further emphasized the perilous conditions, stating that the areas in Gaza deemed safe by Israel fall significantly short of meeting basic requirements for food, water, medicine, and shelter. He described the situation as a “perfect storm” for disease outbreaks, highlighting the absence of sanitation and shelter.
Elder concluded, “Only a ceasefire is going to save the children of Gaza right now,” condemning Israel’s approach to creating safe zones as “callous and cold.” Meanwhile, Peeperkorn revealed that the WHO had complied with an Israeli order to remove supplies from warehouses in Khan Younis, anticipating the area to become a combat zone in the coming days. WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus had previously appealed to Israel to withdraw this order, but Israel denied requesting the evacuation of warehouses. The unfolding crisis in Gaza continues to evoke international concern and calls for urgent action.
