WHO describes ‘appalling’ conditions at northern Gaza hospital amid Israeli hostilities
Euromedmonitor
A humanitarian team from the World Health Organization (WHO) has reached one of northern Gaza’s last functioning hospitals, describing the conditions as “appalling” amid intense Israeli military operations in the area.
Kamal Adwan Hospital, located in Beit Lahia, has faced weeks of hostilities, severely limiting access to medical supplies and staff.
WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said on X (formerly Twitter) that the team delivered 5,000 liters of fuel, food, and medicines over the weekend and transferred three patients and six companions to Al-Shifa Hospital, Gaza’s main medical facility.
The mission came after repeated attempts to access the hospital, which WHO earlier reported is operating at a “minimum” level.
Tedros stressed that recent hostilities have caused further damage to the facility’s oxygen and electricity systems and forced the evacuation of specialized medical personnel, leaving critical gaps in surgical and maternal care.
“The conditions in the hospital are simply appalling,” he said. “We urge for the protection of health care and for this hell to stop! Ceasefire!“
The ongoing war began with Hamas’s October 7 attack on Israel, which led to the deaths of 1,208 people, primarily civilians, according to Israeli official figures.
Israel’s retaliatory offensive has since killed more than 45,000 people in Gaza, the majority of whom are women and children who are engaged in the war, according to figures from the territory’s Hamas-run health ministry which the United Nations deems reliable.
The WHO and humanitarian partners continue to call for safe access to deliver life-saving assistance and the protection of medical facilities amidst the escalating crisis.
