oPt Emergency Situation Update 28 – WHO Update (7 Oct 2023 – 20 Apr 2024)

Key concerns

• Continued dismantling of the health system, jeopardizing health service provision, access to health, and delivery of life-saving supplies. This is further straining the capacity of the health system to meet the health care needs of the vulnerable population.

• In northern Gaza, five hospitals remain partially functional, providing limited health care services to the vulnerable population: two in the northern governorate and three in Gaza City.

• In the southern, six hospitals are currently operational, two in Deir al-Balah, two in Khan Younis, and three in Rafah, in addition to six field hospitals: UAE, IMC, Jordanian, UK-Med, Indonesian, and Qatari Field hospitals.

• The planned Rafah incursion will have disastrous impact on the already existing humanitarian crisis. WHO and Health partners are developing a contingency planning to ensure the health system is prepared to cope with the influx in casualties.
• Increasing insecurity, destroyed roads and infrastructure, and lack of proper facilitation of humanitarian missions continue to hinder health access. A sustained and functional deconfliction mechanism is needed to facilitate safe delivery of humanitarian aid across the Gaza Strip, as per International Humanitarian Law.
• The Union of Gaza Strip Municipalities is warning of an impending environmental and public health catastrophe, with around 270,000 tons of solid waste accumulating across the Strip.
• An estimated 9,000 critical patients need to be medically evacuated out of Gaza, including over 6,000 suffering from trauma-related injuries, and 3,000 with serious chronic conditions (e.g. cancer).
• Partner operations continue to be negatively affected by the displacement of staff, operational challenges, and disrupted telecommunication.
• Limited access to proper WASH facilities continue to contribute to the rise in infectious disease, including diarrhoeal illness and hepatitis A.