WHO: Half of Gaza's Hospitals Operating Partially and 16,000 Patients Need Evacuation

The World Health Organization stated that 50% of the 36 hospitals in the sector are operating partially, with 25 hospitals partially destroyed, according to the Palestinian Studies Institute. Additionally, 40% of health centers are operating partially, and 229 essential medicines are not fully available in the sector, according to the Palestinian Ministry of Health.

According to what was published by the "Safa" agency, the figures indicate that 65% of medical supplies are not fully available in the Gaza Strip, and 60% of the required medicines at Al-Shifa Hospital are not fully available, according to the hospital director.

Tarik Jasarievic, a spokesperson for the World Health Organization, stated that 26 health centers have been opened, including 4 hospitals and 6 primary care centers, noting that the WHO is working with the Palestinian Ministry of Health to support health points and hospitals to resume operations.

Jasarievic pointed out that the process of re-equipping hospitals and health centers with equipment, medicines, and health staff is still slow, as many services are unavailable, necessitating the medical evacuation of people to receive healthcare abroad. He revealed that 16,000 individuals need evacuation.

He added that the health sector in Gaza needs more crossings to deliver aid and evacuate patients, and to open routes for transferring patients for treatment in the West Bank, in addition to the need for more countries that can host patients from Gaza.

He clarified that Gaza needs to import various types of food and health equipment, some of which Israeli authorities have refused to allow in, according to the WHO spokesperson, who revealed that over 20,000 people in northern Gaza do not have effective hospitals providing them with services.

He continued: "The World Health Organization receives financial support and equipment from many countries, but it needs more countries to open their doors to Gaza's patients so they can receive healthcare, as there are thousands of them needing medical care abroad."