The Israel-Hamas war has raged on for more four months now, during which the healthcare infrastructure of Gaza has all but crumbled.
NGOs on the ground and Palestinian health officials report that less than a third
of hospitals operating in Gaza before Oct. 7 are still working, with the help they can now offer being described as akin to a “first aid clinic.”
“There is no place to be to be treated, or no safe place to be treated,” Mai al-Kaila, minister of health for the Palestinian Authority, told The Hill.
With limited access to clean water, several NGOs have reported widespread cases of cholera and diarrhea, largely affecting young children.
Over the weekend, a member of Israel’s war cabinet appeared to set a deadline for an invasion into Rafah. Aid groups and officials have warned an offensive on Gazah would be disastrous for the refugees who have gathered at the southern city.
“Many are living in tent camps and makeshift shelters after fleeing bombardments elsewhere in Gaza. People who moved to Rafah, which was considered a ‘safe’ zone, fear a possible ground invasion, which will be catastrophic, adding to the already dire humanitarian situation,” Amani Mustafa, country director of Women for Women International in Palestine, told The Hill.
While aid groups have collected medical supplies to send into the region, organizations have reported that their trucks have been blocked at the border by the Israeli military.
When reached for comment, Israel’s office of Coordination of Government Activities in the Territories (COGAT) said in a statement,
“Israel coordinates with the USA, Egypt, and international aid organizations to facilitate the large-scale entry of humanitarian aid for the residents of the Gaza Strip, focusing on the categories of food, water, medical equipment, and medicines as well as humanitarian equipment for sheltering the population.”
“The State of Israel does not limit the scope of humanitarian aid, provided that it falls under the above categories and is subject to security inspection.”
