Humanitarian Crisis Deepens in Gaza as Evacuations Begin Amidst Collapsing Healthcare System
The ongoing humanitarian crisis in the Gaza Strip has escalated dramatically as the healthcare system teeters on collapse. Israeli strikes on various hospitals have compelled urgent evacuations, with dozens of patients needing immediate medical attention outside the besieged territory. On a recent Tuesday, 45 patients were transported from Khan Younis's European Hospital to the UAE via the Israel-controlled Kerem Shalom Crossing. Among those evacuated was 10-year-old Abdullah Abu Yousef, who suffers from kidney failure and was accompanied by his sister after Israeli authorities denied his mother, Abeer Abu Yousef's, application to join them. "The boy is sick; he requires hemodialysis three to four times a week," Abeer lamented.
Reports from the Ministry of Health indicate that several thousand Palestinians in Gaza urgently require medical treatment abroad. Israel's military offensive, which commenced after the Hamas attack on October 7, 2023, has devastated the healthcare infrastructure, resulting in most hospitals being either closed or only partially operational. The UN has highlighted this humanitarian disaster, noting 136 strikes on medical facilities since the start of the offensive and warning that these actions exhibit blatant violations of international humanitarian and human rights law.
Despite Israel's claims that militants have utilized hospitals for military purposes, the UN has stated that evidence supporting these allegations remains insufficient. As medical facilities struggle to cope with the influx of patients, many families face unimaginable hardships. The continuous airstrikes have left the health sector in Gaza on the brink of total collapse, prompting a surge in patients requiring evacuation.
In addition to the healthcare crisis, the dire living conditions for many residents in Gaza have worsened due to heavy rain which has flooded makeshift shelters, exacerbating the plight of displaced families. Reports indicate that at least four infants have died from hypothermia in recent weeks as families huddle in tents facing cold temperatures and inadequate shelter. Manal Lubbad, a mother desperate for safety, is quoted saying, "I'm drowning... I am trying to rescue blankets and other belongings. We are dead; we are not alive. Why is this happening?"
The tragedy in Gaza is compounded by the severe limitations on movement as Israel maintains complete control over all entry and exit points. As the humanitarian situation deteriorates, additional challenges such as limited resources for evacuations and the continual threat of airstrikes pose substantial risks to the already fragile lives of Gaza's residents. Ultimately, the international community's call to action grows ever louder as families endure the repercussions of conflict and instability, with lives hanging in the balance.
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