‘Hospitals Have Become Battlegrounds’: Gaza’s Health System on Brink of Collapse
By The Associated Press
January 3, 2025
Gaza City, Gaza Strip – Gaza’s health system is on the brink of collapse as hospitals have become “battlegrounds” in the ongoing conflict with Israel, according to a new report by the World Health Organization (WHO).
The report, released on January 3, 2025, paints a grim picture of the state of healthcare in Gaza, where years of conflict, siege, and chronic shortages of essential supplies have left the population vulnerable to disease and injury.
“Hospitals have become battlegrounds,” said Dr. Omar Shaban, the WHO’s representative in Gaza. “They are being targeted, they are being damaged, and they are struggling to provide basic services.”
According to the WHO report, at least 10 hospitals in Gaza have been damaged or destroyed in the past year, including the main hospital in the northern Gaza Strip. The report also notes that medical staff have been killed or injured while on duty.
In addition to the physical damage to hospitals, the ongoing conflict has also disrupted the supply of essential medical supplies, including medicines, vaccines, and equipment. The report warns that the shortage of medical supplies is putting the lives of thousands of patients at risk.
“The situation in Gaza is a humanitarian crisis,” said Dr. Shaban. “The health system is on the brink of collapse, and the people of Gaza are suffering.”
The WHO is calling on the international community to take action to protect hospitals and medical staff in Gaza and to ensure that essential medical supplies are available to those who need them.
“We need to act now to prevent the complete collapse of the health system in Gaza,” said Dr. Shaban. “The lives of thousands of people depend on it.”
Background
The conflict between Israel and the Palestinians has been ongoing for decades, with Gaza, a narrow strip of land on the Mediterranean Sea, being particularly hard-hit. Israel has imposed a blockade on Gaza since 2007, which has severely restricted the flow of goods and people into and out of the territory.
The ongoing conflict has had a devastating impact on Gaza’s economy, infrastructure, and social fabric. The health system, which was already struggling before the conflict, has been particularly hard-hit.
Call to Action
The WHO is calling on the international community to take action to protect hospitals and medical staff in Gaza and to ensure that essential medical supplies are available to those who need them. The organization is also calling for an end to the conflict and for a just and lasting peace settlement.
‘Hospitals have become battlegrounds’: Gaza’s health system on brink of collapse
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