UNITED NATIONS: United Nations has said that hospitals in Gaza Strip, besieged and isolated by the Israeli military operations are at breaking point as thousands of Palestinians facing unprecedented hardships.
A medical convoy, consisting of trucks from WHO and the UN agency for Palestine refugees (UNRWA), was attacked in Gaza City while enroute to deliver essential medical supplies. Despite the attack, the convoy successfully reached Al-Shifa Hospital.
UN humanitarian affairs coordination office said that lack of fuel, water, and flour has led to non-functional bakeries, and no food or water distribution has occurred in the region for a week.
The World Health Organization (WHO) reports that surgeries in northern Gaza hospitals are now being conducted without anesthesia due to the shortage of medical supplies.
The heads of UNRWA and WHO emphasized the urgent need for more support, stating that the medical conditions at Al-Shifa Hospital are disastrous, with nearly two patients for every available bed. Tens of thousands of displaced individuals have sought shelter in the hospital’s parking lots and yards.
The lack of fuel has led to the shutdown of desalination plants, increasing the risk of bacterial infections due to contaminated water. The disruption of solid waste collection has created conditions for the rapid spread of infectious diseases.
The UN health agency expressed particular concern for almost 1.5 million displaced people across Gaza, especially those in overcrowded shelters with limited access to hygiene facilities and safe water. The ongoing Israeli bombardments in Gaza and the firing on medical convoys exacerbate the already critical situation.
The Israeli military has issued evacuation orders to residents in the north, opening a corridor for a four-hour window to move southwards. However, the majority of evacuees, including children and the elderly, arrived on foot with minimal belongings, said UN Humanitarian officials.
UN Special Rapporteur emphasizes accountability for deaths, injuries
As the conflict continues, the UN Special Rapporteur Balakrishnan Rajagopal emphasized the need for accountability for the deaths and injuries, with 99 UNRWA staff reportedly killed during the Israeli bombardment. The situation in Gaza remains dire, with destroyed buildings, damaged infrastructure, and a significant impact on the civilian population.
Reports indicate that up to one-third of buildings in northern Gaza have been either destroyed or damaged. On Wednesday, a rights expert appointed by the UN cautioned against the systematic or widespread bombardment of housing, civilian structures, and infrastructure, stressing that such actions are strictly prohibited by international humanitarian law, criminal law, and human rights law.
