Gaza's Healthcare System on the Brink of Collapse
In an interview with the Agence France-Presse (AFP), Hanan Balkhy, the regional director of the World Health Organization (WHO), stated that the healthcare sector in Gaza "has been dismantled. Very little remains of the healthcare system." She emphasized that "the spread of infectious diseases has become uncontrollable, whether it's meningitis, Guillain-Barré syndrome (an immune disorder affecting the nerves), diarrhea, and respiratory diseases," highlighting that "the scope of work that Gaza needs is unimaginable, and we will have to manage it step by step."
Devastating Statistics
According to WHO data, the city of Gaza now relies on only 8 partially functional health centers, while there is only one health center in northern Gaza. The organization confirms that "there is not enough medical staff in health centers to resume all vital services." Balkhy noted that rebuilding the healthcare sector in Gaza will require "billions of dollars and decades of work," considering the number of hospitals that can be rehabilitated versus those that have been completely destroyed.
Challenges in Estimating the Scope of the Crisis
The regional director of WHO indicated that it is difficult to accurately estimate the scope of losses inside Gaza due to the difficulty of movement in the strip and the rapidly evolving security situation. Health facilities in Gaza have been the target of over 800 attacks since October 7, 2023, according to United Nations data.
Vaccination and Healthcare Concerns
She warned that "children born in the last two years, many of them, I suppose, have not received any vaccine doses." In the same context, a report by the international organization published earlier this month revealed that a quarter of war wounded, numbering around 170,000 since October 2023, suffer from permanent disabilities, and a quarter of them are children. The need for mental health services in the Gaza Strip has more than doubled, but "available services do not meet the needs" according to the organization.
Calls for Humanitarian Aid
Balkhy called for allowing more wounded individuals to leave the Gaza Strip for the occupied West Bank or neighboring countries to receive care, emphasizing: "We need more fuel in Gaza. We need more food, more medical equipment, medicines, paramedics, and doctors." She stated: "We really hope that peace will be totally durable so that we can start working."
Initial Response Plan
Balkhy explained that the initial response plan in the war-torn strip will include "immediate support to public and specialized healthcare centers," in addition to "support for those who have suffered lifelong injuries and disabilities and in the field of mental health."
