"The impact of the conflict on health is catastrophic," Tedros said, highlighting the overcrowded living conditions and the scarcity of essential resources such as food, water, shelter, and sanitation. He expressed concern about the ideal conditions for disease spread, with worrying signs of epidemic diseases and a heightened risk due to the deteriorating situation and approaching winter conditions.
The WHO chief emphasized the critical condition of Gaza's health system, stating that only 14 out of 36 hospitals are functioning, with two of them located in the north of the coastal territory. Out of the original 3,500 hospital beds, only 1,400 remain available. The major hospitals in southern Gaza are operating at three times their bed capacity, facing shortages of supplies and accommodating thousands of displaced people.
Tedros drew attention to the escalating conflict, noting Israel's vow to eradicate Hamas following unprecedented attacks on October 7. The fighting, according to Israeli officials, resulted in about 1,200 casualties, while the Hamas-run health ministry reported at least 17,700 deaths in Gaza, predominantly among women and children.
Since October 7, the WHO has documented over 449 attacks on healthcare in Gaza and the occupied West Bank, along with 60 attacks on healthcare in Israel. Tedros clarified that the WHO does not attribute blame for these recorded attacks.
"The work of health workers is impossible, and they are directly in the firing line," Tedros stated, underscoring the challenges faced by exhausted health workers on the ground. He concluded by emphasizing the interconnectedness of health and peace, stating, "There is no health without peace, and no peace without health."
The WHO is actively present in Gaza, providing support to health workers grappling with unimaginable conditions. (ILKHA)