Palestinian Minister of Health Assistant Undersecretary to QNA: Northern Gaza’s Health Sector Lost USD 2.5 Billion During Aggression

Assistant undersecretary of the Palestinian Minister of Health Dr. Maher Shamiya warned about the severe health situation in the Gaza Strip, marking one year since the Israeli aggression on the Strip began on October 7, 2023. Dr. Shamiya told Qatar News Agency that the Israeli occupation forces have destroyed over 130 ambulances over the past year, rendering them out of service. He added that currently, there are only 70 operational ambulances across all of Gaza's governorates, with 20 ambulances in the Gaza and North Gaza governorates. He highlighted that the losses in the health sector are estimated to be in the billions of dollars, with total losses in the Gaza and North Gaza governorates alone reaching USD 2.5 billion due to the destruction of numerous hospitals. The Assistant undersecretary of the Palestinian Minister of Health named key hospitals targeted by Israeli forces, including Al Shifa Medical Complex, a fully integrated medical city that was completely burned down, as well as Al Nasr Childre ns Hospital and the Al Rantisi Hospital for treating childhood cancer, which alone suffered losses of USD 3 million. Dr. Shamiya pointed out that over 70 percent of the Gaza Eye Hospital has been destroyed, whereas the mental health hospital rendered completely non-functional. He added that Israeli forces also caused damage to all three hospitals in North Gaza: Kamal Adwan Hospital, the Indonesian hospital, and Al Awda hospital, however, medical teams managed to partially restore them. The Assistant undersecretary of the Palestinian Minister of Health noted that the Israeli forces rendered the Patients Friend's Association hospital non-operational twice, yet despite that, it has resumed services. In contrast, the Public Aid Hospital suffered extensive damage. Dr. Shamiya warned that most primary healthcare centers in the Gaza and North Gaza governorates, numbering 14 centers, have been put out of service, thus, increasing pressure on the health sector. He underscored the deliberate destruction of the cen tral public health laboratory, which conducts tests on medications, food, and beverages, with losses of equipment reaching USD 1 million. The Assistant undersecretary of the Palestinian Minister of Health said that one of the major obstacles facing the health sector, particularly in North Gaza, is the Israeli occupation forces' systematic targeting of healthcare workers through bombardment and threats, leaving northern Gaza currently with only 10 percent of its health workforce. Dr. Shamiya said that there is a 83 percent critical shortage of medication and a 70 percent shortfall in medical supplies, in addition to healthcare workers not having received their salaries for the entire past year. He mentioned that Israeli forces do not allow pharmaceutical supply companies to provide necessary medications for patients. Dr. Maher Shamiya concluded his remarks to QNA by emphasizing that medical teams are operating in dangerous conditions without any protection from direct targeting, a stark violation of intern ational law. The Palestinian Ministry of Health published a report marking one year of the aggression, revealing that Israeli forces have rendered 23 out of 38 hospitals in the Gaza Strip non-operational, and 986 medical staff members have been martyred. Source: Qatar News Agency