GENEVA: The World Health Organization (WHO) warned on Tuesday that its ability to provide aid and support to hospitals in Gaza, ravaged by Israeli strikes, is “shrinking,” despite urgent international calls for increased aid access.
WHO staff reported desperate scenes in hospitals where seriously injured patients, including children, are begging for food, as most health workers have fled for their safety.
Sean Casey, WHO Emergency Medical Teams Coordinator, described the unfolding humanitarian catastrophe, highlighting the rapid collapse of the health system in Gaza. He expressed concern about the dire situation on the ground, stating that the organization has not witnessed a reduction in the intensity of hostilities, with a high number of casualties, including shrapnel injuries and gunshot wounds, occurring daily.
Since October 7, Israeli bombardments and a ground invasion in Gaza have resulted in over 23,200 casualties, mostly women and children, according to Gaza’s health ministry. The conflict has displaced approximately 85 percent of Gaza’s population of 2.4 million, leaving civilians at risk of famine and disease.
Challenges in Aid Delivery to Gaza Population
Despite a UN Security Council resolution urging increased aid access, the WHO highlighted the shrinking humanitarian space, with access becoming even more challenging. Israel has implied blame on the United Nations for aid shortages in Gaza, but Casey emphasized that the WHO and other UN organizations are continuously striving to reach areas in greatest need. However, he said that they are facing obstacles in obtaining clearance from warring parties.
Access to northern Gaza has been blocked for the past two weeks, and the WHO has had to cancel six planned missions. Only 15 of Gaza’s 36 hospitals are partially functioning, mostly in the south, with severe shortages of food, clean water, medicines, and fuel.
Hospitals in the north are described as barely functioning, facing desperate conditions. The WHO called for the protection of critical health facilities, including the European Gaza Hospital, Nasser Medical Complex, and Al-Aqsa Hospital, which are now near evacuation zones, warning that the situation is a “recipe for disaster.”
