The World Health Organization estimated the costs of rebuilding the health sector in the Gaza Strip at more than $7 billion.
Hanan Balkhi, Regional Director of the World Health Organization for the Eastern Mediterranean, said in a press conference that the reconstruction of the health sector in the Gaza Strip includes humanitarian response, early recovery, and long-term needs.
She stressed that “the first step will be to restart hospitals and at the same time confront hunger and malnutrition,” adding: “We are already far behind when the Palestinian health authorities report the death of 455 people – including 151 children, most of whom are under the age of five – due to malnutrition since January.”
The WHO Regional Director for the Eastern Mediterranean confirmed that the organization “remained in Gaza and provided its services throughout the war, and was the main provider of medicines and medical supplies, supporting more than 22 million treatments and surgeries.”