The ceasefire agreement in the Gaza Strip has not ended the suffering of the sick and wounded, as restrictions on crossings continue to limit the entry of aid and medical supplies. This comes at a time when injuries are increasing and the capacity of hospitals and health centers to provide services is dwindling, amid warnings that medical specialties and health institutions may cease operations in the coming days.
According to statistics from the Government Media Office in Gaza, approximately 77,657 truckloads of aid have entered the Strip since the ceasefire agreement came into effect on October 10th of last year. This represents less than a third of the actual needs of the population. The office also recorded nearly 6,000 violations of the agreement’s terms, resulting in the deaths of 1,593 Palestinians during the year it was in place.
These violations and restrictions on movement through the crossings are exacerbating the humanitarian situation, as the bombing and targeting continue, resulting in further casualties. This places the health system under increasing pressure, with hospitals already suffering from a severe shortage of medicines, intravenous fluids, and essential medical supplies. In his interview with Al Jazeera, Dr. Muhammad Abu Afash, the director of medical relief in Gaza, described the health situation as tragic, noting that hospitals and health centers are facing a widespread shortage of basic needs, in addition to the postponement of large numbers of surgical operations and the cessation of laboratory services due to the depletion of necessary solutions.Abu Afash warns that the situation has gone beyond the stage of shortage and dysfunction to complete paralysis, noting that entire medical specialties may cease to function in the coming days if the necessary supplies to save the health system are not provided.
