Healthcare facilities in Gaza are facing a dire shortage of medical supplies, according to a Friday announcement from the World Health Organization, even after Israel allowed a major border crossing to reopen earlier this week.
WHO’s regional director Hanan Balkhy reported that certain critical items including gauze and needles have been completely exhausted, based on data provided by Gaza’s Health Ministry. The territory has been severely impacted by two years of conflict between Israel and Hamas.
“Stocks of essential medicines, trauma supplies and surgical consumables are critically low, and fuel shortages continue to limit hospital operations,” Balkhy stated.
“The situation is difficult, and we will be running out of whatever is remaining,” she added.
Earlier this week on Tuesday, Israeli military authorities announced the reopening of the Kerem Shalom border crossing “for the gradual entry of humanitarian aid.” The crossing had been previously shuttered due to concerns about missile attacks from Iran during heightened tensions following Israeli and U.S. military strikes against Iran last Saturday.
Meanwhile, the Rafah crossing connecting to Egypt – which serves as the primary evacuation route for Gaza residents – continues to remain closed, halting medical evacuations according to WHO officials.
The United Nations agency reports that approximately 18,000 individuals, including wounded children and patients with chronic conditions, are currently waiting for medical evacuation from the territory.
Balkhy confirmed that her organization managed to bring in some medical equipment and fuel supplies on Tuesday and Wednesday, though several transport trucks remain waiting in the Egyptian city of al-Arish.
“We’re talking about … maximum 200 out of 600 daily trucks that need to go in are going in so that is really not enough to support the needs in Gaza,” she explained.
The WHO official emphasized the urgent need for additional fuel shipments to keep medical facilities operational.
Following the conclusion of the Israel-Hamas conflict with an unstable ceasefire last October, 18 of Gaza’s 36 hospitals remain closed. The facilities that continue operating are having difficulty maintaining essential medical services including surgical procedures, dialysis treatment, and intensive care units, Balkhy reported.
