Gaza: Palestinian medical sources confirmed Wednesday that the ongoing Israeli aggression and the occupation's policies of obstructing the efforts of international organizations are pushing the health sector toward complete collapse and putting the lives of thousands of patients and wounded individuals at risk of death.
According to Qatar News Agency, medical sources in the Gaza Strip reported that the remaining hospitals operating in the Strip are threatened with closure at any moment, with severe overcrowding in the inpatient, intensive care, and emergency departments, and an increase in critical injuries that exceed the hospital's capacity. They noted that only 45 out of 312 operating rooms remain operational, with limited capabilities, and are unable to perform urgent and complex surgical interventions. Meanwhile, hospitals are suffering from a severe shortage of medicines and medical supplies, which has particularly affected services for cancer and heart patients.
The sources announced that 47 percent of the list of essential medicines has been completely depleted, while the shortage of medical supplies has reached 65 percent. Only 9 of the 34 oxygen stations are still partially operational and do not cover the needs of hospitals. In addition, diagnostic imaging equipment is out of order, and there is a shortage of fuel needed to operate 49 electric generators, which deepens the crisis in vital departments. They added that patients are prevented from traveling to receive treatment, while 338 cancer patients have died while waiting for treatment referrals. Another 11,000 have been deprived of treatment opportunities after specialized centers were destroyed and they were prevented from leaving. 513 patients have also died because the occupation prevented them from traveling to receive treatment outside the Strip.
Regarding kidney failure patients, the same sources confirmed that 41 percent of those afflicted with the disease have died, while patients in the northern Gaza Strip are suffering from a complete lack of medical care following the destruction of hospitals there.
They said that blood banks are suffering from a severe shortage of units, while community donation campaigns have become ineffective due to the spread of anemia and malnutrition, particularly among children and infants, resulting from the lack of therapeutic milk and the absence of nutritional sources and clean water.