WHO appeals for protection of the health system from further attacks and degradation of its capacity
4 December 2023, Cairo/Geneva – Once again, nowhere is safe in Gaza. WHO is gravely concerned about the resumption of hostilities, including heavy bombardment in Gaza, and reiterates its appeal to Israel to take every possible measure to protect civilians and civilian infrastructure, including hospitals, as per the laws of war.
We have seen what happened in northern Gaza. This cannot be the blueprint for the south. Gaza cannot afford to lose another hospital as health needs continue to soar.
As more civilians in southern Gaza receive immediate evacuation orders and are forced to move, more people are being concentrated into smaller areas, while the remaining hospitals in those areas run without sufficient fuel, medicines, food, water, or protection of health workers.
WHO and other partners are less able to provide support, given dwindling access to our supplies or any assurance of safety when we move supplies or staff.
This morning WHO was contacted with the advise to remove as much as possible medical supplies from our warehouse, because our warehouse is situated in a block which was ordered to be evacuated. And access could become problematic over the coming days due to ground operations.
Intensifying military ground operations in southern Gaza, particularly in Khan Younis, are likely to cut thousands off from health care especially from accessing Nasser Medical Complex and European Gaza Hospital, the two main hospitals in southern Gaza as the number of wounded and sick increases.
Lack of access would also limit WHO’s ability to deliver aid to these hospitals.
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