Gaza, 8 August 2022 (TDI): The entry of necessary medications and medical supplies in Gaza has been hampered by the closure of border crossings since August 2. It has resulted in a fuel scarcity, which has impacted Gaza’s access to essential services, clean water supplies, and the operation of its healthcare system.
In Gaza, the local healthcare system is overstretched and deeply impacted by over a decade of blockade. Hospitals in Gaza must have access to fuel and medication to operate at the current crucial time.
MSF (Médecins Sans Frontières/Doctors Without Borders) has welcomed any action that puts the safety of civilians first, opens the border for necessary supplies, and, above all, results in a long-lasting ceasefire.
Along these lines, MSF’s workers on the ground in Gaza are evaluating the impact of Israeli airstrikes on the health system. Therefore, they have donated pharmaceuticals for the operating theaters and emergency rooms of the hospitals.
Our teams on the ground in #Gaza are assessing the impact of Israeli airstrikes on the health system and have donated pharmaceuticals for the operating theaters and emergency rooms of Gaza hospitals. pic.twitter.com/3xtxmaG6NV
— MSF International (@MSF) August 7, 2022
Moreover, MSF has proclaimed that the staff will continue to collaborate with the partners in the Ministry of Health to offer medical care for those injured in the region.
Our team will continue to work with our partners in the Ministry of Health to provide care to injured people in #Gaza, as needed.
— MSF International (@MSF) August 7, 2022
Also read: Palestine condemns premeditated Israeli assault on Gaza
Impacts of the disruptive healthcare system in Gaza
Health care facilities and training opportunities are inadequate throughout the Gaza Strip. Due to the years of socioeconomic collapse, fighting, and blockade, the facilities are overcrowded, and power outages routinely disrupt operations.
Undoubtedly, these difficulties pose a greater threat to the population’s health, which is already in danger. Most residents of Gaza are unable to achieve their daily caloric needs due to food instability and escalating poverty. Over 90% of the water there has been deemed unfit for human use.
Furthermore, people’s physical and mental health has been negatively impacted throughout the Gaza Strip by psychological trauma, poverty, and environmental degradation, especially children who experience anxiety, sadness, and depression.
In short, the healthcare system of Gaza is severely dependent on humanitarian aid for basic medical services. It remains hampered by the restricted movement of people and goods, limited staff, inconsistent salary payment, and shortages of medicines.
