Humanitarian Crisis Deepens as Gaza's Last Operational Hospital Closes
The humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip has reached alarming new heights with the recent closure of the last operational hospital in the northernmost district, al Awda, located in Jabalia. The decision to shut down the facility came after the Israeli army issued evacuation orders, threatening to attack the hospital. Hospital director Mohammed Salha confirmed to BBC News that the evacuation took place on Thursday evening amid escalating attacks from Israeli forces in the vicinity.
In a desperate effort to save lives, medical staff at al Awda hospital transported approximately 100 patients several hundred meters to al Shifa hospital. Unfortunately, ambulances could not reach the hospital due to extensively damaged roads, making the transfer physically strenuous and dangerous for patients and medical personnel alike. Al Shifa hospital itself has been partially operational following previous Israeli bombardments earlier this year.
As the evacuation unfolded, the United Nations noted a surge in Israeli attacks around the Jabalia hospital, further complicating the evacuation efforts. Even before the closure, conditions were critical, with the facility struggling under the weight of numerous injured individuals and significant shortages of medical supplies. The World Health Organization (WHO) made valiant attempts to deliver some necessary aid to the hospital this week, but the efforts were fraught with peril as staff faced bombings and gunfire from nearby military actions.
Tragically, on Friday, Israeli attacks continued to claim lives, with reports indicating at least 27 more fatalities. The larger context reveals a stark reality: according to recent reports, roughly 80 percent of Gaza now finds itself under evacuation orders, creating an increasingly desperate situation for the civilian population. The evacuations are exceedingly alarming, not only for the chaos they cause but also due to the undefined timeline, leaving residents in limbo and at the mercy of ongoing violence.
As the humanitarian crisis unfolds, the challenges faced by medical professionals and patients intensify, underscoring the urgent need for humanitarian assistance and intervention to alleviate the suffering of Gazans caught in the crossfire.
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