Health services in the Gaza Strip are going through a severe crisis. The World Health Organization (WHO) has warned that due to a major shortage of medical supplies and ongoing restrictions on humanitarian aid, the healthcare system there has reached an extremely fragile state.
Hanan Balkhy, the Regional Director for the Eastern Mediterranean at the World Health Organization (WHO), said that many essential medical supplies in Gaza have completely run out. These include basic medical items such as gauze and syringes. She added that stocks of essential medicines, trauma treatment supplies, and surgical equipment are also rapidly decreasing.
According to Balkhy, the shortage of fuel has also seriously affected the functioning of hospitals. Due to the lack of fuel, many hospitals are unable to operate at full capacity, which is increasingly putting patients’ lives at risk.
She also said that the lack of regular humanitarian aid, obstacles to the safe transport of medical supplies, and the halt in the medical evacuation process are making it increasingly difficult for patients to receive timely treatment.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), the organization delivered some medical supplies and fuel to Gaza on Tuesday and Wednesday, but many aid trucks are still stuck in the Egyptian city of Al-Arish.
At present, fewer than 200 aid trucks are able to enter Gaza each day, while around 600 trucks are needed daily to meet the region’s basic needs. Balkhy said that the current level of aid is extremely inadequate and that more fuel should be allowed to operate hospitals.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), half of Gaza’s 36 hospitals remain closed even after the ceasefire. The hospitals that are still operating are also facing serious challenges in continuing critical services such as surgeries, dialysis, and intensive care units (ICU).
In addition, the Rafah crossing, which is the main exit point for residents of Gaza, is also closed, due to which medical evacuations have completely stopped.
According to data from the World Health Organization (WHO), about 18,000 people — including injured children and patients suffering from serious illnesses — are waiting to be evacuated from Gaza for treatment outside the territory.
Since the war began in October 2023, Gaza’s healthcare system has been under unprecedented pressure. The conflict has caused widespread damage to the health infrastructure and has led to a severe shortage of medicines and medical supplies.