UN Warns of Critical Medical Conditions in Gaza’s al-Aqsa Hospital

In the midst of the ongoing conflict in Gaza, the United Nations World Health Organization (WHO) has issued a big warning about worsening medical conditions, particularly at al-Aqsa Hospital, the last functioning hospital in central Gaza. The relentless Israeli bombardments have left the majority of Gaza’s 36 hospitals out of action, causing dire shortages in the remaining medical facilities.

A WHO team, witnessing the situation at al-Aqsa Hospital, reported disturbing scenes of patients being treated on blood-streaked floors. Sean Casey, the WHO emergency medical teams coordinator in Gaza, highlighted the chaotic scene with only five doctors left to oversee hundreds of emergency cases and casualties due to evacuation orders and the dangerous situation.

Medical supplies have become scarce, with hospitals running at two or three times their normal capacity. The UN group brought important medical supplies to the people in charge in Khan Younis in Gaza. However, things are still very serious. WHO leader Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus talked about big needs at al-Aqsa Hospital. He stressed how crucial it is to keep health workers, medical supplies, and beds safe.. He stated that over 600 patients and most health workers had been forced to leave the facility, making it inconceivable that healthcare protection could not be ensured.

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The UN health agency reported that no hospitals are fully functioning in northern Gaza, and a planned WHO mission to the north had to be canceled due to dangers and lack of necessary permissions. Casualty numbers have significantly increased in recent days, with over 120 trauma cases and dozens of fatalities daily due to increased shelling, gunshot wounds, and war-related trauma.


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UNICEF also raised concerns about the impact on children, estimating approximately 3,200 new cases of diarrhea per day among under-fives, a significant rise from the pre-conflict average of 2,000 per month. Additionally, nine in 10 children under two years old are facing severe food poverty, only receiving grains or milk to eat.