In a stark revelation, the United Nations estimates that approximately 50,000 pregnant women are currently residing in Gaza, facing a healthcare system in severe crisis. With more than 180 daily births, the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestinian Refugees (UNRWA) highlights the dire conditions, describing the healthcare system as undergoing “decimation.”
As conveyed on Sunday, UNRWA emphasized the challenges faced by its doctors and midwives, who are striving to provide essential care amidst the dwindling healthcare infrastructure. The agency operates seven health centers, a significant decrease from the pre-conflict number of 22, underscoring the impact of the recent Israeli assault on Gaza, considered the bloodiest ever.
Simultaneously, the head of the World Health Organization (WHO), Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, expressed deep concern over the state of Gaza’s health system. In a statement on X, formerly Twitter, he labeled the situation a “tragedy” and commended health professionals for their resilience amid extreme circumstances. Ghebreyesus reiterated the urgent need for an immediate ceasefire to address the escalating crisis.
The WHO reported that the Gaza health system has witnessed a significant decline, with only 38 percent of pre-conflict hospital beds remaining available. Additionally, merely 30 percent of the original health staff are still working, exacerbating the strain on an already overwhelmed system.
Despite hospitals being protected under international humanitarian law, Israeli strikes have repeatedly targeted healthcare infrastructure in Gaza. The WHO documented 246 Israeli attacks on medical facilities, including hospitals and ambulances, as of December 20. This ongoing assault further compounds the challenges faced by medical professionals attempting to provide crucial care.
The situation on the ground is described as “unbearable,” with largely abandoned patients pleading for food and water in badly damaged hospitals. Only nine out of 36 hospitals are partially functional in the entire besieged territory, with none in the north, according to WHO reports. The sustained targeting of medical facilities by Israel continues to exacerbate the healthcare crisis.
The 11-week war has taken a devastating toll, displacing approximately 80 percent of Gaza’s 2.3 million residents, with tens of thousands seeking refuge in UN schools or makeshift tents. The death toll has reached at least 20,424 Palestinians, with 166 reported casualties in the past 24 hours alone. Tens of thousands are wounded, and the situation remains dire with many bodies trapped under rubble as the conflict persists.
