GENEVA: The World Health Organization (WHO) on Monday revealed distressing scenes of children dying from starvation in northern Gaza hospitals, amid dire shortages of food, fuel and medicines, underscoring the dire humanitarian crisis gripping the region.
WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus conveyed the grim findings from the Al-Awda and Kamal Adwan hospitals, which witnessed horrifying scenes of malnourished children and overwhelmed medical facilities amid relentless Israeli attacks.
During the visit over the weekend, WHO officials discovered appalling conditions, including destroyed hospital buildings and overwhelming patient numbers, particularly at the Kamal Adwan Hospital, the sole paediatrics facility in northern Gaza.
Tragically, the lack of food has resulted in the deaths of at least 10 children, adding to the toll of malnutrition-related fatalities in the aid-deprived northern Gaza region.
At Least 30,500 Palestinians Killed in Gaza
The dire situation in Gaza has been exacerbated by the ongoing relentless Israeli attacks since October 7, killing at least 30,500 Palestinians, mostly women and children.
In addition to the scarcity of food, the hospitals also face severe electricity shortages, posing a grave threat to patient care, especially in critical areas like intensive care and neonatal units.
In response to the urgent needs, the WHO delivered 9,500 litres of fuel to each hospital, along with essential medical supplies. However, these efforts are only a fraction of the required assistance to address the escalating crisis.
Tedros reiterated the WHO’s appeal to Israel to ensure the safe and regular delivery of humanitarian aid to Gaza, emphasizing the urgent need for scaled-up assistance to civilians, especially children, and healthcare workers.
Tedros stressed that the ultimate remedy lies in achieving peace through a ceasefire, underscoring the critical importance of ending the ongoing conflict to alleviate the suffering of the Palestinian people in Gaza.
