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Critical Conditions in Gaza: A Call for Humanitarian Action
On Monday, the World Health Organization’s (WHO) representative, Rik Peeperkorn, emphasized the dire medical conditions witnessed at Al-Ahli hospital prior to a recent attack, highlighting the severe limitations on movement that hinder thousands from obtaining necessary medical care outside Gaza.
Peeperkorn reflected on his recent visit to Gaza, which took place in early March, just before escalated violence and the onset of an aid blockade. During that period, when a temporary ceasefire was in effect, WHO was able to organize critical polio vaccinations and medical evacuations while ensuring essential medical supplies were available.
“At that time, there was a glimmer of hope amidst the ongoing tragedy,” Peeperkorn noted. He described the scene in Gaza, where residents, including humanitarian staff, were returning to their homes to repair damage and reestablish makeshift living conditions. Efforts to revive commercial activities were evident, with locals facing the stark realities of limited food availability.
However, the situation dramatically shifted with the reimposition of the blockade, leading to rapid depletion of food, water, and essential medicines. Despite having stockpiled supplies during the ceasefire, WHO now faces critical shortages, complicating the operation of hospitals in the region.
“We have completely exhausted our supplies of therapeutic milk, antibiotics, trauma painkillers, insulin, and oxygen tanks,” Peeperkorn stated.
Moreover, just days prior to the attack on Al-Ahli, medical specialists reported that the facility was overwhelmed, serving as a primary trauma center for patients suffering severe injuries. The conditions under which surgeries were performed raised significant concerns, with inadequate access to sterile surgical equipment. Health practitioners were compelled to reuse gloves and work in less-than-optimal conditions, significantly raising the possibility of complications, permanent disabilities, or amputations.
Requests for additional supplies from WHO’s warehouses in southern Gaza were denied, as the ongoing blockade continues to hamper critical humanitarian assistance. “The blockade must be lifted, and we need an arrangement that facilitates humanitarian corridors throughout Gaza, allowing for unfettered access to aid workers and humanitarian supplies, especially amidst conflict,” Peeperkorn asserted.
Currently, hospitals like Al-Shifa, now the primary surgical and trauma center for northern Gaza, are facing immense pressure and a lack of support. Plans to transfer patients from Al-Shifa to southern facilities are complicated, and Peeperkorn noted that far too few patients have managed to escape Gaza for the urgent care they need. An estimated 12,000 individuals require medical evacuation, yet only 121 have been moved to safety since the blockade was imposed, including a mere 73 children.
“We advocate for the immediate reinstatement of medical evacuation through all potential routes. Action is needed now,” Peeperkorn concluded.
Source
news.un.org