Capitals: Europe and the Arabs
WHO remains unable to distribute fuel and essential life-saving health supplies to major hospitals in the northern Gaza Strip due to a lack of security guarantees.
The organization called for an immediate ceasefire on humanitarian grounds so that health supplies and fuel can be safely delivered to all parts of the Gaza Strip. According to what was stated in the daily news bulletin of the United Nations, a copy of which we received on Wednesday morning
Al-Shifa Hospital is among the facilities awaiting WHO supplies and fuel in the northern Gaza Strip, where the bed occupancy rate is approaching 150%.
The Indonesian hospital was forced to stop some vital services due to fuel shortages, and is now operating on a limited basis. The Turkish Friendship Hospital - the only oncology hospital in the Gaza Strip - is still partially operational due to fuel shortages, putting about 2,000 cancer patients at risk.
Thousands of patients are at risk
In addition to the hospitals that were forced to close their doors due to the damage they sustained and the attacks, six hospitals throughout the Gaza Strip closed their doors due to a lack of fuel.
The World Health Organization stressed that unless vital fuel and additional health supplies are urgently delivered to Gaza, thousands of vulnerable patients will be at risk of death or medical complications as vital services stop due to lack of electricity.
Among these, 1,000 patients depend on dialysis, 130 premature babies require care, and patients are in intensive care or require surgery and need a stable and uninterrupted supply of electricity to survive.
Supplies reach four hospitals
The day before yesterday, Monday, the World Health Organization delivered 34,000 liters of fuel, with support from UNRWA, to four main hospitals in southern Gaza, as well as to the Palestinian Red Crescent Society to continue ambulance services. But that's only enough to keep ambulances and vital hospital functions running for just over 24 hours.
Some WHO medicines and health supplies were also delivered to the four main hospitals in southern Gaza and the Palestine Red Crescent Society.
For its part, the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) called for an immediate ceasefire for humanitarian purposes, and for relief to reach the Gaza Strip in a sustainable and unhindered manner. She said that the past eighteen days witnessed the bloodiest escalation in the Gaza Strip and Israel since 2006.
UNICEF pointed to reports that about 2,400 children were killed in Gaza and more than 5,300 were injured due to the continuous attacks during the past eighteen days, which equates to the death or injury of more than 400 children every day.
The UN organization said that reports also indicate that more than 30 Israeli children lost their lives, and dozens are still detained inside the Gaza Strip.
“The killing, maiming and kidnapping of children, attacks on hospitals and schools, and denial of humanitarian access constitute grave violations of children’s rights,” said Adele Khader, UNICEF Regional Director for the Middle East and North Africa.
Khader added, "The situation in the Gaza Strip represents an increasing stain on our collective conscience. The rate of deaths and injuries among children is shocking."
She expressed concerns that the death toll could increase unless tensions are eased and humanitarian aid, including food, water, medical supplies and fuel, is allowed in.
UNICEF urgently appeals to all parties to agree to a humanitarian ceasefire, allow aid to arrive, and release all hostages.
The statement of the organization concerned with the rights and support of children said that the West Bank also witnessed an alarming increase in the number of victims, as it was reported that about 100 Palestinians were killed, including 28 children, and at least 160 children were injured.