The International Committee of the Red Cross and the World Health Organization warned of the deterioration of the health and humanitarian situation in the northern Gaza Strip, due to the Israeli military operation that caused the cessation of civil defense and ambulance services in addition to preventing the entry of food, water and medicines.
For the 23rd day in a row, the Israeli occupation army continues intense aerial and artillery bombardment and shooting in northern Gaza, especially the Jabalia camp and the town of Beit Lahia, in scenes that observers say constitute “genocide” that the world is watching live.
Stephanie Eller, deputy head of the Red Cross mission in Gaza, described the conditions in northern Gaza as “very tragic” and said that safe passage must be provided for people who wish to leave their places.
She added in a statement yesterday, Saturday, that “the ongoing evacuation orders and continued restrictions on the entry of basic supplies leave the remaining civilian population in northern Gaza under horrific conditions.”
She stressed that the Israeli army’s request to evacuate hospitals leaves a potential vacuum in medical services for a large number of remaining civilians.
During a recent visit by International Committee of the Red Cross teams to the northern Gaza Strip, we saw firsthand the heartbreaking humanitarian situation experienced by civilians.
More from the Deputy Director of the Sub-delegation in Gaza below👇🏽 pic.twitter.com/UHDILSqc0J– The International Committee (@ICRC_ar) October 22, 2024
Humanitarian catastrophe
For his part, Director-General of the World Health Organization, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, confirmed that the situation is “catastrophic” in the northern Gaza Strip, pointing out that there is “a serious shortage of medical supplies, in addition to very limited access (to these supplies), depriving people of vital treatments.”
He confirmed that the Israeli army attacked Kamal Adwan Hospital, the last hospital still operating in the northern Gaza Strip, and arrested 44 male employees, leaving only one female employee, the hospital director, and a doctor to care for about 200 patients who urgently need treatment.
He continued, “Information about hospitals and medical supplies damaged or destroyed during the siege calls for regret.”
Tedros stated that “the entire health system in Gaza has been subject to attacks for more than a year,” and stressed that “hospitals must be protected from conflicts at all times,” reiterating that any attack on hospital facilities constitutes a violation of international humanitarian law.
He considered that the only way to save what remained of the health system on the verge of collapse in Gaza was an immediate and unconditional ceasefire.
For its part, Doctors Without Borders announced the loss of one of its surgeons in the hospital.
The organization said on the
She added, “We are trying to contact our colleague and are urgently seeking information about his whereabouts. We demand his security and protection, as do all medical teams in Gaza.”
With broad American support and in front of the entire world, Israel has been waging a war on Gaza since October 7, 2023, which, as of noon the day before yesterday, Tuesday, left 143,000 Palestinian martyrs and wounded – most of them children and women – and more than 10,000 missing, amid massive destruction and famine that has killed… Dozens of children and the elderly, in one of the worst global humanitarian disasters.