World Health Organization: Gaza Strip's largest medical facility becomes a "dead zone"

SGGP 20/11/2023 05:48

On November 19, the World Health Organization (WHO) called for the complete evacuation of all patients and staff at Al-Shifa Hospital, the largest medical facility in the Gaza Strip. The WHO stated that a humanitarian assessment team had described the hospital as a “death zone.”

A mass grave right at the hospital entrance.

The appeal was made after the WHO led a team including representatives from various United Nations (UN) agencies to conduct a humanitarian assessment of the situation at Al-Shifa Hospital. The WHO statement said the team assessed the situation at the hospital as “desperate,” essentially unable to function as a medical facility due to a lack of clean water, fuel, medicines, and other essential supplies, while security was a serious concern due to shelling and gunfire in the area.

According to WHO figures, there are currently 291 patients and 25 medical staff inside Al-Shifa Hospital, including 32 critically ill infants and more than 20 patients requiring dialysis. The assessment team reported seeing a mass grave containing over 80 people right at the hospital entrance. Meanwhile, the hospital corridors and grounds are filled with medical waste and solid garbage, increasing the risk of infectious disease outbreaks. The team also witnessed patients, the injured, and medical staff attempting to evacuate the hospital amidst fighting surrounding the facility.

The assessment took place on November 18th, following the Israeli military's request to relocate approximately 2,500 people temporarily sheltering at Al-Shifa Hospital. On social media platform X, WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus stated that the organization is working with partners to develop an emergency evacuation plan and requested full support to implement it. Ghebreyesus also called for an immediate ceasefire to ensure the sustainable delivery of humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip.

Protesters in Glasgow, Scotland (UK) carried banners reading "End the Genocide" and called for a ceasefire.

Keep firing!

Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant said the country's military is moving into the second phase of its ground offensive in the Gaza Strip. Accordingly, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) remain in the west but are gradually shifting eastward…

“Hamas has lost its command centers, tunnels, and hideouts, while its commanders are wounded, thousands of fighters have been killed… Hamas’s presence is dwindling. Those in southern Gaza will soon feel this,” Gallant said.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Netanyahu declared that Israel would hunt down all members of Hamas, including those operating outside the Gaza Strip.

According to Reuters, the Washington Post, citing several sources, reported that Israel, the US, and Hamas forces have reached a temporary agreement to help rescue dozens of hostages, including women and children. In return, a five-day ceasefire will be agreed.

According to the details of the agreement, the hostages will be released in the next few days if no last-minute obstacles arise. The parties will cease fighting for at least five days, in exchange for the release of more than 50 hostages in groups every 24 hours (Hamas is believed to have taken around 240 hostages). The ceasefire also aims to allow a significant amount of humanitarian aid to enter the Gaza Strip. The agreement was reached after weeks of negotiations between the parties involved in Qatar.

However, both Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and US officials have insisted that no agreement has been reached.

Source: https://www.sggp.org.vn/to-chuc-y-te-the-gioi-co-so-y-te-lon-nhat-dai-gaza-thanh-vung-chet-choc-post714862.html