686 Injured, Including 38 Health Workers, in Gaza’s Healthcare Assaults

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United Nations: The World Health Organisation (WHO) has recorded at least 137 attacks on healthcare in Gaza over the past 36 days, resulting in 521 deaths and 686 injuries, including 16 deaths and 38 injuries of health workers.

The Regional Directors of the UN sexual and reproductive health agency, the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), and WHO said they were “horrified” at the latest reports of the number of killings, including children, in facilities across Gaza City and other northern areas of the ravaged enclave.

The Palestinian Red Crescent Society is reporting that the second largest hospital in Gaza, Al-Quds, is in effect out of service due to fuel shortages, with the NGO saying it has only been able to make sporadic contact with the facility.

Ministry of Health update about the dire situation at Al-Shifa Hospital – received on 12 Nov:
🔹600-650 inpatients, 200-500 health workers and approximately 1500 internally displaced people still inside the hospital.
🔹Lack of power, water and food, putting lives at immediate… pic.twitter.com/3MQfKdpqlY

— WHO in occupied Palestinian territory (@WHOoPt) November 12, 2023

WHO has lost communication with its contacts at Al Shifa Hospital, the largest in Gaza, where news reports quoting the health ministry say that five wounded patients have died because they could not be operated on due to a lack of fuel?

Two babies in the intensive care unit there were reported to have died on Saturday, with water, food, and electricity cut off by the Israeli occupation forces.

WHO Chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus expressed grave concern for the safety of staff and patients caught in crossfire late on Saturday, noting that Israeli tanks are reportedly surrounding Al Shifa.

Intense hostilities surrounding several hospitals in northern Gaza are preventing safe access for health staff, the injured, and other patients, said UNFPA Laila Baker, UNICEF Regional Director Adele Khodr, and WHO Dr Ahmed Al-Mandhari.

The Israeli military has repeatedly denied that its forces are targeting hospitals, claiming that Hamas and other militants are using the facilities as shields, with their headquarters located beneath Al Shifa.

Premature and new-born babies on life support are reportedly dying due to power, oxygen and water cuts at Al-Shifa Hospital, while others are at risk. Staff across several hospitals are reporting a lack of fuel, water and basic medical supplies, putting the lives of all patients at immediate risk.

The world cannot stand silent while hospitals, which should be safe havens, are transformed into scenes of death, devastation, and despair, stated Regional Directors.

The regional directors of @UNFPA_Arabic , @UNICEFmena and @WHOEMRO call for urgent international action to end the ongoing attacks on hospitals in #Gaza.https://t.co/aMKACyJxnU pic.twitter.com/kUGKXsqL3R

— WHO Regional Office for the Eastern Mediterranean (@WHOEMRO) November 12, 2023

Attacks on medical facilities and civilians are unacceptable and are a violation of international law, they added.

More than half of the hospitals in the Gaza Strip are closed, while those remaining are under massive strain.Shortages of water, food, and fuel are also threatening the wellbeing of thousands of displaced people, including women and children, who are sheltering in hospitals.

Senior officials of three UN humanitarian agencies called on Sunday for urgent international action to end the deadly Israeli attacks against hospitals in blockaded Gaza.

Decisive international action is needed now to secure an immediate humanitarian ceasefire, prevent further loss of life, and preserve what’s left of the health care system in Gaza, directors added.

Occupied Palestinian Territory Humanitarian Coordinator Lynn Hastings warned that lack of fuel is not only putting lives at risk in hospitals, but water pumps, desalination plants and wastewater treatment centres are all grinding to a halt.

She tweeted that public health crises are emerging and humanitarian operations will be next.