Anjali Sharma
GG News Bureau
UNITED NATIONS, 22nd Feb. WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus on Wednesday warned that an “inhumane” health and humanitarian situation prevails across Gaza with conditions continuing to deteriorate.
“Gaza has become a death zone,” Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, told reporters at a press briefing in Geneva.
“Much of the territory has been destroyed. More than 29,000 people are dead; many more are missing, presumed dead; and many, many more are injured,” he added.
WHO indicated that across Gaza Strip, severe malnutrition has shot up dramatically since the start of the war on 7 October, from under one per cent of the population, to over 15 per cent in some areas.
“This figure will rise the longer the war goes on and supplies [are] interrupted,” Tedros said.
He expressed deep concern that agencies such as the WFP are unable to access the north.
WFP suspended its aid deliveries there due to lack of security for both humanitarian personnel and those seeking assistance.
“What type of world do we live when people cannot get food and water, and when people who cannot even walk are unable to receive care?”, he stated.
“What type of world do we live in when health workers are at risk of being bombed as they carry out their life saving work [and] hospitals must close because there is no more power or medicines to help save patients?”
He underscored the need for an immediate ceasefire, for hostages to be released, the guns to fall silent, and unfettered humanitarian access.
Tedros said “Humanity must prevail”.
WHO and partners carried out several emergency missions to the Nasser medical complex in Khan Younis to evacuate critically ill patients including children.
“With the intensive care units no longer working, WHO helped move patients, many of whom cannot even walk,” Tedros said.
He added that 130 sick and injured patients and 15 doctors and nurses remain in the hospital, after ongoing Israeli military operations, no electricity and running water and dwindling lifesaving medical supplies.
