Gaza: The World Health Organization (WHO) has warned that disease outbreaks in Gaza are spiraling out of control, with only 13 of 36 hospitals in the territory partially functioning amid ongoing conflict and devastation.

According to Qatar News Agency, Dr. Hanan Balkhy, WHO's Regional Director for the Eastern Mediterranean, stated that Gaza's health system has been dismantled, leaving only remnants of essential care infrastructure. "There is very little left of the healthcare system in Gaza," she said, warning of uncontrolled spread of infectious diseases, including meningitis, Guillain-Barre syndrome, diarrhea, and respiratory illnesses.

WHO data indicates that only eight health centers are currently operational-all partially-in Gaza City, while only one center remains in the north. Staffing shortages mean many critical services remain suspended. Dr. Balkhy emphasized that rebuilding Gaza's health sector will take billions of dollars and decades of work, noting the challenge of assessing total damage due to ongoing restrictions on movement and rapidly shifting conditions.

Since October 7, 2023, over 800 attacks on health facilities have been reported, according to UN data. Balkhy also expressed concern for children born in the past two years, many of whom are believed to have missed essential childhood vaccinations.

A WHO report earlier this month revealed that of the 167,376 war-wounded since October 2023, one in four suffers permanent disabilities, with children making up a quarter of those injured. Mental health needs in Gaza have also more than doubled, yet current services fall drastically short, the agency said.

Dr. Balkhy appealed for urgent action to evacuate wounded individuals to the West Bank or neighboring countries for treatment, and called for increased access to fuel, food, medical supplies, and personnel. According to Gaza's Ministry of Health, at least 67,967 people have been killed since the beginning of Israel's military operation - figures the United Nations deems credible.