The Director General of the Ministry of Health in the Gaza Strip, Munir al-Barsh, stated that the health system in the Strip is experiencing a complete collapse that is worsening daily, despite the cessation of hostilities weeks ago. He emphasized that hospitals are now without the resources or capacity to provide necessary services, and that patients are dying while awaiting treatment.
In a press statement on Monday, al-Barsh explained that the shortage of essential medicines has reached 84%, while the shortage of emergency medications has reached zero, representing a 40% decrease for the first time in the Ministry of Health’s history. He also indicated that the shortage of medical supplies has reached 71%, with gauze no longer available, and intravenous fluids will not last more than a month. Furthermore, laboratories have completely ceased operations due to fuel and communication outages.
He added that the Ministry receives only two truckloads of medical supplies per week, an amount that does not meet even the minimum of the escalating needs. He noted that cancer medications have reached a 71% shortage, while 90% of orthopedic surgery supplies have disappeared, forcing thousands of wounded individuals to seek referrals for treatment outside Gaza.
According to the Ministry of Health, 82% of children under one year old suffer from anemia, while more than 18,000 patients need to travel abroad for treatment, including 7,000 wounded individuals and 5,000 children.
Al-Barsh pointed out that the occupation presents a misleading image to the world by allowing the entry of consumer goods while preventing the entry of medical equipment and life-saving supplies. This has led to the deaths of 1,000 patients awaiting transfer, in addition to 6,000 amputation cases requiring urgent care.
