The World Health Organization has warned of the serious deterioration in the health conditions in the Gaza Strip, in light of the suffocating blockade imposed on the Strip for nearly two months, and the prevention of the entry of humanitarian and medical aid.
“The health situation in Gaza is catastrophic, and we are very close to the abyss,” Margaret Harris, a spokeswoman for the organization, said in today’s statements, noting that the health risks faced by the population are exacerbated day by day, as a result of the lack of basic supplies.
She emphasized that the Palestinians in Gaza are deprived of the basics of life, including food, clean water and shelter, as well as the inability to obtain health care, noting that the Palestinians are afraid of even going to the hospital, because of targeting many of them.
Harris noted that doctors and nurses suffer from a lack of all necessary supplies to help the wounded, adding that health sector workers lack blood bags, venous injection units, cotton sticks to clean wounds, and antibiotics to protect people from infection.
She indicated that there are currently 21 hospitals in Gaza and 4 field hospitals, but that any of them does not have the adequate capacity from the family to meet the needs, explaining that hospitals for this reason are often forced to send patients to their homes quickly, before they are completely recovering with the aim of receiving new patients.
“This means that health workers are deprived of everything. We are very close to the abyss, so there is a great danger,” Harris added.