The World Health Organization (WHO) has revealed that due to bombardment of Israeli forces, only 10 of Gaza’s 36 hospitals are still functioning, with just 1,400 hospital beds while many health workers displaced, forced to flee with their families.
WHO Director-General, Dr Tedro Ghebreyesus who made the revelation in his remarks at the Informal Plenary Meeting of the United Nations General Assembly said premature babies dying as life-support systems shut down.
He said further that more than 2000 patients with cancer, 1000 with kidney disease, 50,000 with cardiovascular disease and 60,000 with diabetes, all at risk as their treatment is interrupted.
Adding that more and more casualties, and fewer and fewer beds, health workers, medicines and supplies, saying that up to 200 women giving birth every day in the worst imaginable conditions.
WHO DG estimated that 20,000 people and counting in need of specialized mental health services, according to him, “Among the displaced populations in overcrowded shelters, increasing numbers of respiratory and skin infections have been seen.
“Cases of acute watery diarrhea as the sewage system breaks down and people are forced to defecate in the open; Increasing malnutrition; There are no words to describe the horror. The people of Gaza need our support, your support now”, he said.
Ghebreyesus noted that the best way to support Gaza’s health workers and the people they serve is by giving them the tools they need, medicines, medical equipment, clean water, food, power and protection.
He pressed further that field hospitals and emergency medical teams can complement and support existing hospitals and health workers in Gaza, but they cannot replace them.
“Supporting Gaza’s health workers is at the heart of WHO’s operational response plan. We need to rapidly resupply the hospitals, reconstitute the health workforce and ensure health services are protected.
“But frankly, the amount of aid that has been allowed into Gaza so far is pitiful, pathetic. And even the little aid we can get into Gaza cannot be distributed without fuel. It’s as simple as that: no fuel, no aid. The small amount of fuel that entered this week has already run out”.
On behalf of WHO, the DG welcomed reports that an agreement has been reached for increased supply of fuel to Gaza. “We look forward to seeing details of those reports, and to their fulfilment. But it’s not just fuel.
“Electricity is also needed to power desalination plants, water and sewage treatment plants, hospitals and other essential services.
“We welcome the Security Council’s adoption on Wednesday of a resolution on urgent and extended humanitarian pauses and corridors in Gaza. It doesn’t go far enough – we need a ceasefire – but it’s a start.
He called for the immediate implementation of the resolution, and urged all parties to abide by it. “Most of all, we need attacks on health care to stop. The Geneva conventions were adopted and ratified to establish what is acceptable and what is not in conflict.
“Violating the neutrality of health care is not acceptable. Attacks on health care must stop. But so far, WHO has verified 152 attacks on health care in Gaza, 170 in the West Bank, and 33 in Israel – attacks on hospitals, clinics, ambulances, health workers, and patients”.
The DG appealed that Al-Shifa hospital must be enabled to function as a hospital, he said there are reportedly up to 300 health workers and 650 patients inside the hospital.
“Even if Hamas has used the hospital for military purposes, the hospital, and indeed all health care facilities, are never without protection under humanitarian law”.
Furthermore, Ghebreyesus rejected the proposal for a so-called “safe zone” at Al-Mawasi, saying it’s a recipe for disaster. “Attempting to cram so many people into such small area with such little infrastructure or services will significantly increase risks to health for people who are already on the brink.
“WHO will not participate in the establishment of any so-called “safe zone” in Gaza without broad agreement, and unless fundamental conditions in place to ensure safety and other essential needs are met, and a mechanism is in place to supervise its implementation, as Martin Griffiths said earlier”, he said.