WHO’s Director General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus welcomed the new ceasefire deal between Israel and Lebanon, which took effect Wednesday, but he noted that health needs in Gaza remain huge and “will only increase” with the onset of winter cold and rains.  

While there is an opportunity now to rebuild southern Lebanon’s shattered health infrastructure, the plight of Gazans is only getting worse, he said: 

“A year ago, almost all those displaced by the conflict were sheltered in public buildings or by family members. Now, 90% are living in tents,” Tedros observed, referring to the massive military destruction of schools and other public spaces that has since occurred over the course of the war. 

“This leaves them vulnerable to respiratory and other diseases, cold weather, rain and flooding are expected to exacerbate food insecurity and malnutrition,” Tedros said. 

Northern Gaza ‘blockade’ still limiting access to aid – Tedros

A continuing Israeli blockade of northern Gaza is limiting the entry of essential resources, “including blankets, fuel and food, all of which are already in short supply,” Tedros added.   

Israel has denied that it is limiting aid deliveries to the area, but it admits that aid distribution is a growing challenge due to the hijacking of deliveries by criminal gangs. Some 101 Israeli and foreign hostages also remain in Hamas captivity in Gaza, for the 14th month, with dwindling prospects for their survival as time goes on. 

Over the past month, Israel leveled thousands of homes and ordered the relocation of tens of thousands of Palestinians away from the sprawling Jabaliya refugee camp and other northernmost Gazan communities in the course of fierce battles with still-active Hamas forces in the area. 

The displacement has occured amidst growing signs that Israel’s hard right leadership bloc and its settler supporters are planning to reoccupy depopulated areas of northern Gaza, contrary to international law – and despite the denials of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and other top military and foreign ministry officials. 

Critical shortages of medicine and fuel  

Most immediately, however,  severe shortages of fuel and medicines, as well as food, in the besieged area pose continued challenges even to the limited functionality of the area’s hospitals, said WHO officials.  

“This week, WHO and our partners conducted a three day visit to the north of Gaza,” Tedros said. “The team visited 17 health facilities, including five hospitals. They saw a high number of trauma patients and increasing numbers of patients with chronic disease needing treatment. 

“There are critical shortages of essential medicines,” he asserted adding, “WHO and our partners are doing everything we can, everything Israel allows us to do, to deliver health services and supplies.”  

Tens of thousands of Palestinians who were displaced from Jabaliya and areas along the border with Israel have now moved south to Gaza City, added said Rick Peeperkorn, head of WHO’s Office in the Occupied Palestinian Territory (OPT). 

“There’s between 100 to 150,000 people from the north who are now actually camping in Gaza City,” he said. 

Huge increase in insecurity, crime and looting

“There’s a huge need for mental health, psychosocial support, especially also for the health workers,” Peeperkorn said. “And of course, the shortages in supplies, staffing, but also the high influx of trauma patients. And the shortages remain in the key area, energy, as well as antibiotics, surgical supplies, oxygen, IV fluids, etc.” 

In the wake of the progressive destruction of Hamas,  “we have seen a huge increase in insecurity, crime and looting,” Peeperkorn admitted, compounding the problems with delivery of aid.  

On a faintly positive note, WHO this week facilitated the medical evacuation of some 70 patients to Jordan and elsewhere abroad for medical treatment – one of the largest groups to be moved out of the conflict zone since the  Rafah crossing closed, Peeperkorn noted. 

But he called for the re-establishment of more “consistent” medical corridors abroad, noting that with 12,000 chronically ill or injured people waiting to be referred out of Gaza  “if we continue at this pace, we’ll be busy for the next 10 years.” 

Added Tedros, “Once again, the ultimate solution to the suffering is not aid but peace. As we always say, the best medicine is peace.”

Image Credits: @WHO.