WHO calls for protection of Nassar Medical Complex and Al-Amal Hospital in Gaza
‘If the situation further deteriorates, both hospitals are at high risk of becoming non-functional,� organization warns
ISTANBUL
The World Health Organization (WHO) called Thursday for the protection of Nasser Medical Complex and Al-Amal Hospital in the Gaza Strip, which have come under attack from Israeli forces.
“WHO calls for urgent protection of Nasser Medical Complex and Al-Amal Hospital to ensure they remain accessible, functional and safe from attacks and hostilities. Patients seeking refuge and care to save their lives must not risk losing them trying to reach hospitals. Hospitals must never be militarized or targeted,” it said on its website.
Warning that the health system in Gaza is on the brink of collapse, it said Nasser Medical Complex, “the most important referral hospital left in Gaza,” and al-Amal Hospital are in danger of shutting down, noting that there are already no hospitals functioning in the north of Gaza.
“Nasser and Amal are the last two functioning public hospitals in Khan Younis, where most of the population is living currently. Without them, people will lose access to critical health services,” it added.
Although Israel has not issued evacuation orders for these hospitals, they are located within or just outside the evacuation zone announced on June 2, it said, adding that Israeli authorities have notified the Health Ministry that roads leading to the hospitals will be blocked, severely hindering access for incoming patients and medical personnel.
“If the situation further deteriorates, both hospitals are at high risk of becoming non-functional, due to movement restrictions, insecurity, and the inability of WHO and partners to resupply or transfer patients,” it said.
Nasser and Al Amal hospitals are currently operating beyond their capacity as patients with life-threatening injuries continue to arrive seeking urgent treatment, despite a severe shortage of essential medicines and medical supplies, it said, warning that it would have devastating consequences for patients requiring surgical procedures, intensive care, blood transfusions, cancer treatment and dialysis services if these hospitals were to cease functioning.
“Losing the two hospitals would cut 490 beds, reducing the Gaza Strip’s overall hospital bed availability to less than 1,400 hospital beds (40% less hospital beds available in the Gaza Strip than before the start of the conflict), for the entire population of 2 million people,” it said.
“The relentless and systematic decimation of hospitals in Gaza has been going on for too long. It must end immediately,” it said.
Despite extraordinary efforts by health workers, WHO and partners over the past 20 months, relentless attacks, restricted aid and limited access have severely crippled the health care system, it underscored.
“WHO calls for the delivery of essential medicines and medical supplies into Gaza to be immediately expedited safely and facilitated through all possible routes,” it added.
