The World Health Organization (WHO) has warned of a dire collapse in Gaza’s healthcare system amid critically low medical supplies.
Nearly half of essential medicines, including antibiotics and painkillers, are now completely unavailable, with 43% at “zero-stock” levels.
Medical supplies and vaccines are also vanishing, with 64% of equipment and 42% of vaccines now inaccessible, WHO officials said in Geneva.
Patients with chronic conditions such as cancer, kidney failure, and heart disease are among the most affected by the ongoing shortages.
WHO’s Regional Emergency Director for the Eastern Mediterranean, Ahmed Zouiten, called the situation unprecedented during a briefing to UN-accredited journalists.
Meanwhile, 51 WHO trucks carrying life-saving materials remain stalled in Egypt and the West Bank, awaiting permission to enter Gaza.
“No WHO trucks have crossed into Gaza yet,” confirmed Hanan Balkhy, WHO’s regional director, underscoring the urgency of the blockade.
She painted a harrowing picture of doctors operating without anaesthesia, sterilisation tools, or even basic bandages and intravenous fluids.
“Imagine a surgeon needing to fix a broken bone with minimal equipment, no anaesthesia, and no sanitizers,” she said.
Balkhy also highlighted the silent suffering of patients with diabetes, hypertension, and mental health conditions who lack access to routine medications.
The humanitarian crisis has deepened as Israel’s military campaign in Gaza continues unabated since October 2023, ignoring global ceasefire appeals.
According to local authorities, nearly 54,000 Palestinians—mostly women and children—have been killed during the offensive.
WHO continues to call for immediate humanitarian access to prevent further collapse of Gaza’s already crippled health system.