The Los Angeles Post
U.S. World Business Lifestyle
Today: April 10, 2025
Today: April 10, 2025

Gaza health situation is 'catastrophic': WHO chief

Camp sheltering displaced Palestinians who fled their houses due to Israeli strikes, in Rafah
April 26, 2024
Reuters - Reuters

GENEVA (Reuters) - The impact of the Israel-Hamas conflict on Gaza's healthcare sector has been "catastrophic", the World Health Organization chief said on Sunday at an emergency board meeting, saying conditions were ideal for the spread of deadly diseases.

However, he said it would be all but impossible for the WHO to improve the situation given the ongoing violence.

"It's stating the obvious to say that the impact of the conflict on health is catastrophic," WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus told the 34-member board. "In summary, health needs have increased dramatically and the capacity of the health system has been reduced to one third of what it was."

A motion being reviewed by the board proposed by Afghanistan, Morocco, Qatar and Yemen demands passage for medical personnel and their supplies and tasks the WHO with securing funding to rebuild hospitals.

Yet Tedros said that it would be "almost impossible" to meet those requests given the security situation on the ground and said he deeply regretted that the United Nations Security Council could not agree on a ceasefire following a U.S. veto.

"Resupplying health facilities has become extremely difficult and is deeply compromised by the security situation on the ground and inadequate resupply from outside Gaza," he said.

The motion was criticised by Israel who has said it gives disproportionate attention to Israel and does not address what is describes as Hamas' use of civilians as human shields, by placing command centres and weapons inside hospitals.

Such WHO emergency sessions are rare and have occurred during health crises including during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 and during West Africa's Ebola epidemic in 2015.

(Reporting by Emma Farge, Editing by Louise Heavens)

Share This

Popular

Health|Political|US

Trump administration plans to remove all members of HIV advisory council

Trump administration plans to remove all members of HIV advisory council
Environment|Health|US

Californians in wildfire areas urged to test for lead poisoning

Californians in wildfire areas urged to test for lead poisoning
Economy|Health|Political|US

FDA reverses course on telework after layoffs and resignations threaten basic operations

FDA reverses course on telework after layoffs and resignations threaten basic operations
Economy|Health|Political|US

Social Security abandons phone service cuts after backlash

Social Security abandons phone service cuts after backlash

Health

Health|Science

Heavy drinking linked with lasting impact on the brain, study finds

Heavy drinking linked with lasting impact on the brain, study finds
Economy|Health|US

HIV survivor owes $201K to Social Security after getting his disability benefits cut

HIV survivor owes $201K to Social Security after getting his disability benefits cut
Business|Economy|Health|Political|US

Trump drug tariffs would drive up prices, worsen shortages before any boost to US manufacturing, experts warn

Trump drug tariffs would drive up prices, worsen shortages before any boost to US manufacturing, experts warn
Entertainment|Health|Lifestyle

'An angel on earth:' Veteran housekeeper brightens days of hospital patients

'An angel on earth:' Veteran housekeeper brightens days of hospital patients

Access this article for free.

Already have an account? Sign In