Healthcare System in Crisis: Urgent Action Required to Address Devastating Consequences
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Gaza’s Health System On Brink Of Collapse
As the clock strikes midnight, Gaza’s healthcare system teeters on the edge of collapse, leaving Palestinians with limited to no access to medical care. The devastating attacks on hospitals in Gaza have pushed the system to its breaking point.
Dr. Rik Peeperkorn, World Health Organization (WHO) representative for the West Bank and Gaza, warned during a meeting of the U.N. Security Council that only 16 out of 36 hospitals in Gaza remain partially functional, with an insufficient total bed capacity of just 1,822 beds – drastically below what is required to address the overwhelming health crisis.
The dire situation has been exacerbated by the destruction brought by recent attacks on Kamal Adwan Hospital, which was once the last functioning hospital in North Gaza. The Israeli Defense Forces’ operation led to the apprehension of over 240 terrorists, including 15 who took part in an October massacre. However, this comes at a devastating cost, as hundreds of Hamas and Islamic defectors were hiding inside the hospital under the management of its director, who is currently being investigated by Israeli security forces.
The U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Turk, has condemned the destruction of hospitals, labeling it a “human rights catastrophe” that continues to unfold before the eyes of the world. The Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) has documented at least 136 strikes on at least 27 hospitals and 12 other medical facilities in Gaza.
The impact of these attacks is catastrophic, resulting in significant death and injury among doctors, nurses, medical staff, and civilians alike. More than 1,050 medical professionals have lost their lives in Gaza so far.
Source: www.forbes.com
