In a dire appeal, Dr. Munir al-Bursh, Director General of the Ministry of Health in Gaza, has called on the international community to pressure Israel into allowing medical teams and essential supplies into northern Gaza, warning that the region’s collapsing healthcare system is causing preventable deaths on a massive scale.
In an interview with Al Jazeera, al-Bursh outlined the devastating consequences of Israel’s continued obstruction of humanitarian provisions, particularly the delivery of life-saving medicines, medical equipment, and electricity generators.
He stressed that the destruction of hospitals and the blockade on medical aid have already contributed to the deaths of tens of thousands.
Despite a ceasefire agreement that mandates the transfer of medical supplies and the daily evacuation of 300 wounded individuals, al-Bursh revealed that only a fraction of those in critical need have been allowed to leave.
He accused Israel of deliberately stalling the process, citing the rejection of evacuation requests for 400 sick and wounded children under the age of six. At least 100 of them have since died due to the lack of medical care.
“The humanitarian disaster we are witnessing in northern Gaza is worse than the direct effects of war,” al-Bursh stated. “Patients with chronic conditions like kidney failure and heart disease are dying simply because they cannot access treatment.”
Al-Shifa Hospital, the last functioning major medical center in northern Gaza, is overwhelmed. The facility, which has the capacity to handle 70 dialysis patients, is now trying to care for more than 200, leaving many without life-saving treatment.
Al-Bursh reported that 40% of dialysis patients have already died due to the lack of medical care.
Meanwhile, field hospitals that could alleviate the crisis remain blocked. A 600-bed Qatari hospital and another operated by Doctors Without Borders were scheduled to be transferred to northern Gaza but have been prevented from doing so by Israeli occupation.
Other medical facilities, such as the Indonesian Hospital, have been forced to shut down due to shortages of oxygen supplies and electricity.
Al-Bursh also underscored the dire need for foreign medical teams, arguing that bringing in specialized surgeons and medical experts is far more urgent than evacuating the wounded.
“If we had the necessary equipment and expertise here, we wouldn’t need to send so many people out for treatment. But Israel is preventing both,” he said.
Beyond medical aid, Gaza is also facing extreme shortages of food, clean water, and basic necessities, further compounding the crisis.
Al-Bursh warned that if international pressure does not force Israel to allow medical supplies and personnel into the region, the humanitarian catastrophe will only deepen.
Despite repeated appeals, he noted that international organizations and the United Nations continue to face delays in delivering aid due to bureaucratic hurdles and Israeli restrictions. He urged the global community to take immediate action, stressing that every day of inaction costs more lives.
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