Dozens of hospitals, first aid centers stop services in Gaza amid shortages
GAZA STRIP, Palestine - A total of 15 hospitals and 32 first aid healthcare centers have stopped operations due to the intensified Israeli bombing campaign and their repeated failures to bring in medicines and supply fuel, according to the Palestinian Ministry of Health.
Nasser Medical Complex, the largest hospital in the southern Gaza Strip, suffers from a lack of medicines and fuel.
Baraa has been injured for a week and his life is in critical danger as the shortages mean he cannot receive the medical help he needs. The necessary care of hundreds more wounded people and sick people inside the complex is about to come to an end.
"Baraa has a fractured skull and all he does is just open his eyes, he is not responding at all," Wissam Qafah, Baraa’s uncle told Rudaw.
"The doctors are monitoring his condition through tests and examinations on a daily basis until they know the reason for his suffering and lack of response.
"I talk to him and he looks at me, but Baraa does not know anyone and is not aware of what is around him."
Although Nasser Hospital continues to receive the wounded and sick, the complex suffers from many crises that negatively affect the services provided, especially for the wounded.
"More than 60 percent of the injured in the burns department here are women and children," Dr. Rami Abu Anza, head of the burns department at the Nasser Complex said.
He went on to say: "At the Nasser Complex, we face a severe shortage of medicines and medical supplies, and we are sometimes forced to perform medical procedures with women and children with burns without giving them the necessary medications to manage the pain."
"This is very painful for patients and medical staff as well," he sighed.
The Palestinian Ministry of Health announced that the Israeli bombing has so far caused the loss of 130 medical staff and destroyed 25 ambulances.
The UNRWA has warned of an imminent humanitarian catastrophe as people who have taken refuge in schools continue to be unable to access food, water, and medicine.
According to data published by local authorities of Gaza, the Israeli bombing campaign has caused the destruction of more than 50 percent of the housing units.
The Palestinian government says that more than half of the population of the Gaza Strip has been displaced.
Nasser Medical Complex, the largest hospital in the southern Gaza Strip, suffers from a lack of medicines and fuel.
Baraa has been injured for a week and his life is in critical danger as the shortages mean he cannot receive the medical help he needs. The necessary care of hundreds more wounded people and sick people inside the complex is about to come to an end.
"Baraa has a fractured skull and all he does is just open his eyes, he is not responding at all," Wissam Qafah, Baraa’s uncle told Rudaw.
"The doctors are monitoring his condition through tests and examinations on a daily basis until they know the reason for his suffering and lack of response.
"I talk to him and he looks at me, but Baraa does not know anyone and is not aware of what is around him."
Although Nasser Hospital continues to receive the wounded and sick, the complex suffers from many crises that negatively affect the services provided, especially for the wounded.
"More than 60 percent of the injured in the burns department here are women and children," Dr. Rami Abu Anza, head of the burns department at the Nasser Complex said.
He went on to say: "At the Nasser Complex, we face a severe shortage of medicines and medical supplies, and we are sometimes forced to perform medical procedures with women and children with burns without giving them the necessary medications to manage the pain."
"This is very painful for patients and medical staff as well," he sighed.
The Palestinian Ministry of Health announced that the Israeli bombing has so far caused the loss of 130 medical staff and destroyed 25 ambulances.
The UNRWA has warned of an imminent humanitarian catastrophe as people who have taken refuge in schools continue to be unable to access food, water, and medicine.
According to data published by local authorities of Gaza, the Israeli bombing campaign has caused the destruction of more than 50 percent of the housing units.
The Palestinian government says that more than half of the population of the Gaza Strip has been displaced.