The Director-General of the World Health Organization (WHO), Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, condemned the dire situation at Kamal Adwan Hospital in Gaza, describing it as “simply appalling.” The ongoing violence has severely affected the hospital, with recent attacks damaging crucial medical infrastructure, including the oxygen supply, generators, and windows and doors in patients’ rooms.
Tedros shared that the WHO had made efforts to support the hospital, delivering 5,000 liters of fuel, along with food and medicine, and evacuating three patients and six companions to Al-Shifa Hospital. However, despite these efforts, four WHO missions to the hospital were denied in the past week, leaving the facility without specialized personnel necessary for surgical and maternal care.
The WHO Director-General reiterated the urgent call for a ceasefire in the region, emphasizing the need for the protection of healthcare infrastructure. He concluded his statement by expressing that the situation is a “hell” that must come to an end, calling for immediate action to stop the violence.
The conflict has severely impacted the humanitarian situation in Gaza, with Israel’s large-scale offensive in northern Gaza since October 5 causing widespread displacement and significantly hindering humanitarian aid. Reports from Palestinian authorities suggest that nearly 4,000 people have been killed in northern Gaza alone since the offensive began, and the overall toll across Gaza since October 7, 2022, has surpassed 45,000 Palestinian deaths, many of whom are women and children.
International bodies are investigating alleged war crimes and genocide in the ongoing conflict, as the situation continues to deteriorate. The global community remains deeply concerned about the escalating violence and its devastating impact on the civilian population in Gaza.
