Geneva - Saba:
World Health Organization spokesperson Margaret Harris warned on Sunday of the complete collapse of the health system in the Gaza Strip, saying, "We are very close to the brink."
Harris confirmed in press statements that the health risks facing Gaza's citizens are increasing due to the lack of aid or medical supplies entering the Strip for nearly two months, as a result of the Israeli occupation's stifling blockade.
She said that Palestinians in Gaza are now deprived of everything, as they lack food, clean water, shelter, and access to medical care.
Harris noted that Palestinians are even afraid to go to the hospital, as many of them have been targeted.
She noted that doctors and nurses are suffering from a shortage of all the necessary supplies to help the wounded.
Harris added that health workers lack blood bags, intravenous infusion units, cotton swabs to clean wounds, and antibiotics to protect people from infection.
She said that the wounded are arriving at hospitals with various injuries, all of which carry a high risk of infection. She noted that the people of Gaza are subjected to daily shelling, and there are cases where people suffer so-called traumatic injuries, such as broken bones and open wounds that are highly susceptible to infection.
Harris reported that there are currently 21 hospitals in Gaza, including four field hospitals, but none of them have sufficient bed capacity to meet the needs.
She added that for this reason, hospitals are often forced to quickly send patients home before they have fully recovered in order to receive new patients.
Harris said, "We have truly run out of everything. We have large quantities of supplies, and 16 truckloads of them are waiting at the Gaza border, but we are not allowed to bring them in."
She added, "This means that health workers are deprived of everything. We are very close to the abyss, and therefore there is great danger."
For about two months, the enemy has continued to prevent the entry of all humanitarian aid into the Gaza Strip. On March 2, it halted the passage of aid through the crossings with the Gaza Strip, leading to a complete halt in the entry of relief supplies and fuel.
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