GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip – The ongoing conflict between Israel and the neighboring Gaza Strip has resulted in the deadliest clashes since Israel’s founding in 1948. The Israeli military continues its bombardment of the area, with no signs of a cease-fire in sight.
In response to the dire situation, the World Health Organization (WHO) has successfully transferred 32 critically ill patients, including two children, from the besieged Nasser Hospital in the southern Gaza Strip. The hospital had become non-functional after an Israeli military raid, and the WHO led two high-risk missions to transfer the patients amidst ongoing hostilities and access restrictions.
The situation in Gaza is dire, with 90% of children under the age of 2 facing severe food poverty, and 95% of pregnant and breastfeeding women experiencing the same. The Gaza Strip is on the brink of a nutrition crisis, according to a report, and more than 80% of households lack clean and safe water.
Israeli troops have been accused of turning Nasser Hospital into a “military barracks,” endangering the lives of patients and medical staff. The ongoing conflict has made it increasingly difficult for medical facilities to function, with allegations of Hamas conducting military operations out of hospitals adding to the chaos.
The destruction and degradation of medical facilities in Gaza are creating a massive blow to the area’s health system. The situation is worsening, and aid groups fear an “explosion in preventable child deaths” if the conflict does not end soon.
The Israel Defense Forces refute the claim, alleging that Hamas has been using hospitals for military operations. With the situation escalating, the health and humanitarian crisis in Gaza continues to intensify. The challenges of providing medical care in the midst of conflict are taking a devastating toll on the people of Gaza. The need for urgent action to address the humanitarian crisis in the region is critical.