DaysofPal- The World Health Organization has warned that the Gaza Strip is on the brink of a humanitarian breakdown as critical shortages of medicines and medical equipment leave only about half of its health facilities operating at partial capacity.
In a statement issued Friday, the WHO said Gaza’s health system is facing unprecedented pressure due to extensive damage to infrastructure and worsening food insecurity, conditions that are driving the territory toward a large-scale humanitarian crisis.
The agency cautioned that acute malnutrition is increasingly threatening children and pregnant women, reporting that more than 100,000 children, along with approximately 37,000 pregnant and breastfeeding women, are at risk of severe malnutrition.
“The situation continues to deteriorate at an alarming pace, and without urgent action, the number of preventable deaths will rise,” the WHO said, urging the immediate and unhindered
According to the WHO, shortages of essential medicines, medical supplies, and equipment have drastically reduced the ability of hospitals and clinics to deliver even basic care.
Many facilities are functioning with limited personnel, unstable electricity supplies, and dangerously low stocks of vital materials.
The warning comes after a similar alert from Gaza’s Ministry of Health, which said the depletion of medical reserves could soon lead to a severe health emergency unless supplies are urgently replenished.
The ministry attributed the crisis to ongoing restrictions that have blocked the regular flow of medical equipment and pharmaceuticals into the besieged enclave.
Health authorities and international organizations have repeatedly stressed that restoring medical supply chains is critical to preventing further casualties, particularly among vulnerable populations such as children, pregnant women, older people, and those suffering from chronic diseases.
The WHO emphasized that humanitarian access should not be subject to political considerations, underscoring that protecting civilians and ensuring the delivery of lifesaving medical assistance are obligations under international humanitarian law.
Without immediate intervention, the organization warned, Gaza’s fragile health system could collapse entirely, with catastrophic consequences for the more than two million people living in the territory.
Shortlink for this post: https://daysofpalestine.ps/?p=70738
