The Israeli military has withdrawn from Gaza, but that doesn’t mean Gazan troubles are over. On Saturday, UN officials said that Gaza’s medical services and facilities were “on the verge of collapse”. By the time Israeli forces had withdrawn, more than 1800 Palestinians – most of them civilians and almost 400 of them children – and 67 Israelis had died. The damage to Gaza’s health system is extensive.
During the conflict, a third of Gaza’s hospitals were damaged, as were 14 of the strip’s 33 primary healthcare clinics, and 29 ambulances operating in the zone. At least five medical staff died on duty, with tens injured, and at least 40 per cent of medical staff have routinely been unable to reach their workplaces because of the disruption.
A report released on Monday by the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs estimates that at least 373,000 children need psychological support and counselling, and one-quarter of Gaza’s population of 1.8 million are now displaced, with 270,000 in shelters run by the UN Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA).
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Crowded shelters
With government hospitals and health centres damaged or overwhelmed by casualties, many are turning instead to health centres run by UNRWA. “With 270,000 in 90 shelters, averaging 3000 in each, shelters are very crowded,” says Akihiro Seita, director of UNRWA’s health programme.
Seita says there have been outbreaks of diarrhoea at some of UNRWA’s shelters, but no reports yet of serious communicable diseases such as cholera. “Medicines for hygiene are badly needed, such as lice shampoo, scabies cream and skin rash creams.” says Seita. “The hygiene situation is of major concern due to shortages of non-potable water for showering and toilet and very crowded conditions in the summer heat.”
Some help is on its way. A shipment of $1.4 million of medical supplies donated by Switzerland, Norway and Italy arrived last week, as did 130 tonnes of humanitarian medical aid such as intravenous fluids and drugs. And last weekend, a team of 24 doctors and surgical nurses arrived to assist with treating the estimated 8000 casualties.