WHO raises concerns at Nasser hospital complex as ground invasion looms over Rafah
Anjali Sharma
GG News Bureau
UNITED NATIONS, 16th Feb. World health agency on Thursday expressed concerns over the ongoing airstrikes in Rafah and reported that Israeli forces have conducted a military operation inside the Nasser Hospital Complex, voiced concerns over a potential ground invasion of the densely populated Rafah city are escalating.
According to media reports, Israeli military confirmed on Thursday in a tweet that its special forces had conducted what they called a “precise and limited operation” inside Nasser Hospital in southern Gaza, the largest functioning health facility in the area.
WHO head Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus in a tweet expressed alarm over the increasingly dire situation at the hospital.
“Access to the hospital remains obstructed there is no safe corridor for those in need. Two WHO missions have been denied in the last four days, and we lost touch with the hospital’s personnel,” Tedros said.
He called for humanitarian access and the safeguarding of hospitals by all combatants, stressed that they must remain safe for civilians.
OCHA latest situation update highlighted “population movements” away from the southern border city towards Deir al Balah and the Nuseirat refugee camp.
WFP expressed concern that displacement from the densely packed city on the Egyptian border could exacerbate the plight of those seeking refuge there.
Matthew Hollingworth, WFP Country Director for Palestine, describes Rafah’s streets as “packed with throngs of people”, noted that every available space in the city has become a makeshift shelter.
The city is now home to 1.5 million Gazans displaced by conflict.
Mr. Hollingworth in a video released on Thursday on the X platform, highlighted the despair pervading Rafah, where people struggle for support, fuel and sustenance amid “damp, cold and miserable” conditions.
WFP is providing aid to Gazans in Rafah, organizations such as Action Against Hunger that work side-by-side with UN’s humanitarians warn to suspend activities if Israeli ground operations expand to Rafah.
The intense Israeli bombardment persists across Gaza, resulted in further civilian casualties and infrastructure damage.
Ministry of Health in Gaza reported a death toll of at least 28,576 Palestinians and 68,291 injured since October. Between 13 and 14 February, 103 Palestinians were killed and 145 injured.
Israeli military casualties stand at 230 soldiers killed and 1,352 injured since the start of ground operations, with over 1,200 Israelis and foreign nationals killed during attacks on Israel during the Hamas-led massacre of 7 October.
According to Israeli authorities, 134 individuals remain captive in Gaza.
