Health situation in the Gaza Strip – WHO report (3 March 2008)

Health Situation in Gaza

3 March 2008

§ The IDF withdrew from the Gaza Strip early morning. Since 27 February, 116 Palestinian were killed including 39 children and 350 people were injured including 75 children according to the MoH.

§ Five ambulances have been hit during the IDF actions in Gaza Strip as reported by the MoH.

§ The MoH has issued referral documents for 11 urgent cases to be treated in Israeli hospitals. 7 patients are waiting for the Israeli permits to cross Erez Crossing and the other 4 patients are waiting for hospital appointments. (see annex)

§ 39 patients have been referred to Egyptian hospitals on the 2 February through Rafah border crossing. Other 34 cases will be referred by the end of this day.

Health Facilities Update

The MoH hospitals continue to work within the declared state of emergency. The provision of some health services has been reduced due to the shortage of drugs, medical supplies, lab reagents; some  medical equipments are no longer functioning.

The MoH has reported that currently 85 drug items, 52 medical supply items and 24 lab reagents items are out of stock and urgently needed by MoH facilities.

Fuel/ electricity supply

Gaza Strip, except Rafah district, is facing a daily electricity outage for an average of 8 hours. The MoH hospitals are relying on the emergency generators during electricity outage hours. The general shortage of fuel continues to be of concern in hospitals.

Fuel availability in the MoH hospitals

The MoH vehicles are functioning as all of them have been refueled.

Health personnel

The health personnel have reported to their work places today after some of them have been redeployed to other health facilities according to the needs. Health personnel working in Beit Hanun and Kamal Edwan hospitals in Northern Gaza have reported to work normally after the curfew has been lifted.

Access to Health Care outside Gaza

Israeli Authorities allowed urgent and non-urgent cases not related to the Israeli attacks to cross the Israeli Erez during February and the first two days of March.

Patients crossed Erez from 27 February- 2 March

Coordination and response

§ Two coordination meetings were held in Gaza and Jerusalem on 3 March assessing needs and capacity of response.

§ WHO has distributed to partner agencies in the health sector a matrix listing MoH urgent needs of drug, medical supplies, lab reagents, medical equipment and fuel.

ANNEX

Injuries resulted from the Israeli attacks in the last few days that are in critical conditions and need to be referred to the Israeli hospitals