Gaza Health Crisis: WHO Warns of Collapse
- gaza's already fragile health system is nearing collapse as military operations intensify, causing mass displacement and critical shortages.
- In the past week, four major hospitals—Kamal Adwan Hospital, Indonesia Hospital, Hamad Hospital for Rehabilitation and Prosthetics, and European Gaza Hospital—have ceased operations due to their proximity to...
- Of Gaza's 36 hospitals, only 19 remain partially operational, struggling with dwindling supplies, staff shortages, and a surge in casualties.Most are providing only basic emergency care. According to...
Gaza’s healthcare system stands on the brink of collapse as intensified military operations cripple hospitals and create mass displacement. This crisis, highlighted by the WHO as a humanitarian catastrophe, sees facilities forced to shut down, leaving millions with limited access to medical care. With severe shortages of supplies and staff plaguing the few remaining functional hospitals, the situation demands immediate action. Attacks on healthcare infrastructure,coupled with evacuation orders,are exacerbating the desperate conditions. News Directory 3 understands the urgency of this situation and is committed to providing updates. The WHO is calling for the active protection of healthcare facilities and an immediate ceasefire. Discover what steps are being taken to address the Gaza health crisis and ensure aid reaches those in need.
Gaza Health System on Brink as Attacks, Evacuations Intensify Crisis
gaza’s already fragile health system is nearing collapse as military operations intensify, causing mass displacement and critical shortages. Attacks on healthcare facilities and evacuation orders are forcing hospitals to shut down, leaving a population of over two million with drastically reduced access to medical care.
In the past week, four major hospitals—Kamal Adwan Hospital, Indonesia Hospital, Hamad Hospital for Rehabilitation and Prosthetics, and European Gaza Hospital—have ceased operations due to their proximity to conflict zones or evacuation directives. The World Health Organization (WHO) has documented 28 attacks on healthcare in Gaza during this period, bringing the total to 697 as October 2023.
Of Gaza’s 36 hospitals, only 19 remain partially operational, struggling with dwindling supplies, staff shortages, and a surge in casualties.Most are providing only basic emergency care. According to reports, at least 94% of hospitals in the Gaza Strip have sustained damage or destruction.
Recent evacuation orders in northern and southern Gaza threaten to further decimate healthcare services. One hospital, 11 primary care centers, and 13 medical points fall within the evacuation zones, with an additional five hospitals, one field hospital, nine primary care centers, and 23 medical points located within 1,000 meters of these zones.
North Gaza is almost entirely without healthcare. Al-Awda Hospital,functioning minimally as a trauma stabilization point,faces imminent closure due to insecurity and access restrictions. Recent attacks damaged the hospital’s water supply and injured staff. A WHO mission attempting to reach the hospital was blocked.
the Indonesian Hospital remains inaccessible due to military presence since May 18. A WHO mission to deliver aid and assess conditions was aborted due to security concerns. Kamal Adwan Hospital, previously the only center treating severe acute malnutrition in North Gaza, closed on May 20 after intense fighting forced evacuations.
In southern Gaza, Nasser Medical Complex, Al-Amal, and Al-Aqsa hospitals are overwhelmed by a surge of injured patients and a new wave of displacement. the European Gaza Hospital remains closed after an attack on May 13, cutting off vital services like neurosurgery, cardiac care, and cancer treatment.
Across Gaza, only 2,000 hospital beds are available for a population exceeding two million. At least 40 of these beds are at risk due to new evacuation zones, with another 850 potentially lost if conditions worsen near these zones.
Continued hostilities and military presence impede patient access, obstruct healthcare workers, and prevent the WHO and its partners from delivering essential supplies.
The WHO has emphasized the systematic destruction of Gaza’s healthcare system, stating that hospitals are repeatedly rehabilitated and resupplied only to be attacked again. The organization is calling for the active protection of healthcare facilities, stressing that hospitals must never be militarized or targeted.
The WHO is also urging that aid be allowed into Gaza through all possible routes and that humanitarian access be unimpeded. The organization supports the United Nations’ plan for delivering aid with safeguards against diversion.
The WHO calls for an immediate and lasting ceasefire to alleviate the suffering and protect the remaining healthcare infrastructure.
What’s next
The WHO continues to advocate for the protection of healthcare and increased humanitarian access to prevent the total collapse of Gaza’s health system. Further efforts are needed to ensure the safe delivery of medical supplies and the evacuation of patients to functional facilities.