**Gaza’s Health System on Brink of Collapse: WHO Warns**
The World Health Organization (WHO) has sounded the alarm, warning that Gaza’s health system is being stretched to the breaking point by Israel’s military offensive and evacuation orders. According to Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, the head of the WHO, several hospitals in the northern towns of Beit Lahia and Jabalia are inside an Israeli-designated zone of evacuation.
The Indonesian hospital, Kamal Adwan, and al-Awda hospitals are among those affected, with the latter being out of service due to hostilities near it. Dr. Mohammed Salha, a medical staff member at the Indonesian hospital, stated that “nobody can leave and we cannot receive any cases outside the hospital.” The situation is dire, with Israeli forces surrounding the hospital and tanks firing just 400-500 meters away.
This is not an isolated incident. The WHO has warned that if hospitals like Nasser are evacuated, hundreds of patients would die imminently due to a lack of medical facilities capable of handling their needs. The humanitarian situation in Gaza is dire, with no fuel, food, or water available.
The Israeli military operation was launched as a response to Hamas’s cross-border attack on October 7th, which resulted in over 1,200 deaths and 251 hostages taken. However, the WHO has condemned Israel’s actions, stating that hospitals are not legitimate targets in any conflict.
**Aid Not Reaching Civilians**
Meanwhile, aid has not yet reached civilians in Gaza, with the UN saying it is still waiting for permission from Israel to deliver essential supplies. The UN has collected dozens of lorry-loads of aid, but so far, only a “basic amount” of food has been allowed into Gaza.
Medecins sans Frontieres (MSF) has described the aid as a “smokescreen” to pretend the siege is over. The organization’s head, Dr. Joanne Cane, stated that every time they visit Gaza, they think it can’t get worse. However, this time, the situation seems even more dire.
**The Humanitarian Cost**
As of now, over 600 people have been killed and 2,000 others injured in Gaza since last week. The UN estimates that tens of thousands of people are displaced, with many more at risk due to the ongoing violence.
The WHO has called on Israel to allow aid to reach civilians in Gaza and to respect international law by not targeting hospitals or other medical facilities. As Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus warned, “We’ve seen it too many times. It mustn’t happen again.”
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