Gaza city: The World Health Organization (WHO) warned on Friday that medicine stocks in the Gaza Strip are extremely low amid limited access for medical supplies to the enclave. WHO Regional Director for the Eastern Mediterranean Hanan Balkhy stated that supplies of some basic materials, including gauze and needles, have already run out.
According to Palestine News and Information Agency - WAFA, Balkhy emphasized that the health system in Gaza remains extremely fragile, with critical shortages of essential medicines, trauma treatment supplies, and surgical consumables. The fuel shortages further limit hospitals' operational capacity, posing severe risks to patient care.
Balkhy cautioned that without consistent humanitarian access, including safe transport of medical supplies and resumption of medical evacuations, patients will face life-threatening delays in receiving care. Although the WHO managed to deliver some medical supplies and fuel to Gaza on Tuesday and Wednesday, several aid trucks remain stuck in the Egyptian city of El Arish.
She highlighted that the current number of trucks entering Gaza does not exceed 200 per day, whereas at least 600 trucks are required daily to meet the territory's needs. Balkhy also urged for increased fuel access to ensure that hospitals can continue functioning.
Additionally, she reported that half of Gaza's 36 hospitals have been closed since the ceasefire began, and the hospitals that remain open struggle to maintain essential services such as surgeries, dialysis, and intensive care. The closure of the Rafah Crossing, the main exit point for most Gaza residents, has also led to the suspension of medical evacuation operations.
WHO data indicate that approximately 18,000 people, including wounded children and patients with chronic illnesses, are currently awaiting medical evacuation, highlighting the urgent need for international intervention to address the healthcare crisis in Gaza.