In a recent and impassioned address to the United Nations General Assembly, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, the director-general of the World Health Organization (WHO), drew attention to the escalating humanitarian crisis in Gaza, shedding light on the critical state of the region's health infrastructure.
Adhanom Ghebreyesus started by expressing deep concern for the health and well-being of the people in Gaza, emphasizing that the situation is becoming more precarious by the hour. He lamented the lack of updates on the number of deaths or injuries, making it challenging to assess the functionality of the health system. The director-general highlighted the dire circumstances, revealing that only 10 out of Gaza's 36 hospitals are still operational, leaving the health system on the brink of collapse.
The global health leader painted a grim picture of the consequences, with a scarcity of hospital beds, health workers, medicines, and supplies. He underscored the plight of specific vulnerable groups, such as premature babies, patients with chronic diseases, and those in need of mental health services. Adhanom Ghebreyesus passionately articulated the challenges faced by Gaza's health workers, many of whom have been displaced, forced to flee with their families.
Throughout his address, the director-general decried the insufficient aid allowed into Gaza, describing it as pitiful and pathetic. He stressed the critical role of fuel, without which aid distribution becomes impossible. While welcoming reports of an agreement for increased fuel supply to Gaza, Adhanom Ghebreyesus highlighted that electricity is equally essential to power crucial infrastructure like desalination plants, water and sewage treatment facilities, and hospitals.
