The spokesperson for the Ministry of Health, Ashraf al-Qudra, confirmed that the Israeli aggression on the Gaza Strip, on its 85th day, has resulted in a total of 21,672 martyrs and 65,165 injured since October 7th, with 70% of the victims being women and children.
Al-Qudra mentioned that Israeli violations against the health system have led to the martyrdom of 312 health personnel, including rare specialized staff, and that Israel continues to detain 99 health workers, including hospital directors in northern Gaza.
Al-Qudra affirmed that the Israeli occupation army deliberately targeted 142 health facilities, including 23 hospitals and 53 health centers, rendering them out of service, in addition to the destruction of 104 ambulances.
He also referred to the testimonies of citizens who were recently released from detention, confirming that the detainees, especially medical teams, were subjected to severe physical and psychological torture, hunger, thirst, sleep deprivation, and continuous interrogation in extremely cold conditions.
The international institutions, led by the International Committee of the Red Cross, have called for visiting and inspecting the detainees, especially medical and humanitarian personnel, and for international mobilization to release them in accordance with international humanitarian law and the Fourth Geneva Convention.
The Ministry of Health revealed that its teams have succeeded in reopening Al-Ahli Al-Araby Hospital, Friends of the Patient Hospital, Al-Sahaba Hospital, Al-Hilal International Hospital, Al-Awda Hospital, and several primary care centers, despite the significant risks surrounding the movement and work of medical teams due to the continuous bombardment of residential areas and the vicinity of health institutions.
Al-Qudra pointed to the intensive efforts made by the Ministry of Health, in collaboration with the World Health Organization and international partners, to implement effective and urgent interventions to ensure the reoperation of Al-Shifa Medical Complex and hospitals in northern Gaza.
He called for taking effective and urgent steps to ensure the protection of all hospitals and their staff, as well as securing access routes to them, especially the hospitals in northern Gaza, where there is a need for medical services for 800,000 people.
Al-Qudra commended the role of international medical teams that have managed to reach the Gaza Strip to support medical staff in hospitals.
He called on all countries and international institutions to send medical teams, necessary medical supplies, and field hospitals to save thousands of wounded individuals.
Al-Qudra warned of the risks of famine and drought affecting over 1.9 million displaced and homeless people who lack proper shelter, water, food, medicine, and security.
He highlighted the plight of 50,000 pregnant women suffering from malnutrition and health complications, especially those at high risk, in shelters due to the lack of drinking water, hygiene, food, and healthcare.
Al-Qudra also noted that more than 900,000 children in shelters are exposed to severe cold, drought, malnutrition, respiratory and skin diseases, and the unavailability of vaccinations for newborns.
He added, “Children and women are experiencing multiple psychological disorders as a result of intense bombardment, destruction, and the loss of their families and homes.”
Al-Qudra emphasized that medical aid is limited, restricted, and inadequate to meet the needs of hospitals, calling on all parties to establish effective mechanisms to ensure the flow of medical assistance according to the declared and sent needs of the Ministry of Health to all parties in order to save thousands of wounded and sick individuals.
He explained that the current mechanism for the departure of the wounded and patients does not respond to the large and increasing numbers of them, and it contributes to the daily killing of more wounded individuals, stressing the need to reconsider it as it has only allowed the departure of 1% of the wounded so far.
He added, “We urgently need to evacuate more than 5,300 seriously injured and complex cases as a priority for treatment abroad to save their lives.”
He said that the Ministry of Health discussed on Saturday morning with the World Health Organization the establishment of effective mechanisms with all parties to facilitate the exit of the wounded and patients for treatment abroad.
He also mentioned that the Ministry, in cooperation with the United Nations Relief and Works Agency and the World Health Organization, has formed a tripartite committee to discuss a plan to activate and reopen health centers to meet the needs of the displaced in displacement areas. (ILKHA)