The World Health Organization (WHO) was alarmed by the number of hungry patients its teams encountered in several Gaza hospitals over the weekend. On Saturday, December 23, a WHO-led mission visited hospitals in Gaza City, including the delivery of more than 19,000 liters of fuel oil to Al-Shifa hospital, the largest in the Palestinian territory. , which was besieged by the Israeli army in November, announced Sunday evening on X (ex-Twitter) the head of the WHO, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
What the members of the December 23 mission observed, “It’s growing desperation due to hunger”said Mr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, who argued for “an immediate increase in [l’acheminement de] food and water to guarantee the health and stability of the population ».
According to the head of the WHO, “the incessant fighting and massive numbers of wounded have strained the capabilities [de l’hôpital Al-Shifa] on your knees ». The establishment cannot provide as is “only the most basic first aid”.
Israel has vowed to destroy Hamas, classified as a terrorist organization by the United States, the European Union and Israel in particular, after an unprecedented attack on its territory on October 7, which left around 1,140 people dead, mostly civilians, according to the latest official Israeli figures.
Palestinian fighters also kidnapped around 250 people, 129 of whom remain detained in Gaza, according to Israel. Israeli bombings in the Gaza Strip, where thousands of bombs were dropped, left 20,424 people dead, mostly women, teenagers and children, according to Hamas.
“Everyone we talk to is hungry”
Sean Casey, WHO mission member, described overloaded surgical departments in Al-Shifa Hospitalspecifying that he had not been able to evaluate the functioning of the operating theaters “because there are people inside and they won’t open the door”. “Everyone we talk to is hungry”he adds in his video filmed in Al-Shifa hospital and posted on X. “There is a risk of famine”he warns.
The head of the WHO also reported that desperate residents had grabbed food aid from a truck heading to the hospital. “In this context of serious food shortages, the search for food (…) pushes some – desperate – to take food from delivery trucks”writes Mr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
WHO teams also visited Al-Sahaba and Al-Helou maternity wards, which jointly record up to 35 births per day, all against a backdrop of shortages of fuel to run the generators, food and water. , oxygen, antibiotics and anesthetics.