With only 12 hospitals out of 36 partially functional in Gaza, OCHA says the health infrastructure is “far from sufficient” to deal with tens of thousands of war wounded.
With only twelve hospitals out of 36 partially functional in Gaza, the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) says that even if additional field hospitals would be developed, the health infrastructure is “far from sufficient” to deal with the tens of thousands of war wounded,
Yasmina Guerda, head of humanitarian affairs at OCHA in Gaza, said that “the health care system is on its knees” in Gaza.
“Many have lost limbs, many have traumatic brain injuries and thousands have lost their hearing ability from the constant explosions,” she added.
Furthermore, “Constant attacks have been launched against healthcare facilities, hospitals in particular, in direct violation of international humanitarian law.”
A healthcare worker said she and her team were attacked as they left the hospital via a “safe route”, adding that she hoped to be able to leave Gaza to continue her treatment.
Muwasi camp faces health risks
Tens of thousands of Palestinians displaced in the Muwasi camp in the north of the country, live among piles of garbage and suffer from a number of diseases.
The area, which Israel has designated as a security zone, has become very overcrowded in recent weeksas Israel expands its operations in the southern city of Rafah.
In the middle of the tents, mountains of waste accumulate under the summer sun. Residents claim that this waste causes illness.
“Because of this garbage, we take the children to the medical center every day, but in vain”, said Shifa Barbakh. She added that her child was suffering from hepatitis, but she could not afford even basic food.
Aid deliveries to Gaza have largely dried up in recent weeks following the IDF operation in Rafah.
According to UNRWA, the United Nations agency that helps Palestinian refugees, Muwasi is home to at least 450,000 displaced Palestinians. The coastal camp, which is very degraded, does not have basic facilities such as wells or toilets.
“Life here is very tiring, and because of the garbage we can’t sleep, because of the smell, and trucks come and go 24 hours a day,” said Maliha Al-Nimnim.
She worries about her disabled daughter who has developed a skin disease. “Flies are present 24 hours a day inside the tents”, she adds.
Help on site, but distribution problems
None of the 569 tons of humanitarian aid that arrived at a US-built dock in Gaza has been distributed to starving Palestinianss, according to the Pentagon.
The United Nations World Food Program warns that humanitarian operations in Gaza are on the verge of collapse and that if food does not arrive quickly in large quantities, “famine-like conditions will spread.”
Israel launched its offensive after the Hamas-led attack on October 7, in which militants stormed southern Israel, killing around 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and kidnapping some 250 more.
The war has killed at least 35,000 Palestinians, according to Gaza’s health ministry, which does not distinguish between fighters and civilians.
Around 80% of the 2.3 million Palestinians have been internally displaced, often multiple times.