News Alert: Health Crisis in Gaza Deteriorates Following Renewed Violence
Following the week-long pause in fighting and the resumption of intense military operations, the health and humanitarian crisis in Gaza has continued to deteriorate. In areas like Rafah, communities are without food, clean water, and electricity. Many health facilities have shut down, leaving limited to no options for severely injured civilians and nearly no options for people who are navigating cancer treatments or need lifesaving medications to survive.
Project HOPE has assembled assessment teams with medical personnel and social workers in Rafah and Deir al Balah to understand the medical needs and to establish medical clinics to provide primary health care to civilians. Project HOPE has also provided family hygiene kits to our partner ANERA, they are currently operating in the Rafah area. Heavy bombing coupled with a lack of communication access and fuel across the region, however, continues to result in delays in distribution, impacting ANERA’s ability to support displaced families.
Dr. Santosh, Medical Coordinator for Project HOPE, said:
“There has been a mass exodus of people fleeing central Gaza to Rafah, yet the daily reality for people is unimaginable right now – people are hungry, grieving, and living without water or electricity. In Deir al Balah, the reality is even more bleak. People are stranded, unable to flee or access medical treatment. Across Gaza, people continue to be displaced time and time again. People are losing hope of survival as the bombardment has intensified. Beyond the immediate threat of violence, harsh living conditions have given rise to a health catastrophe, with an alarming rise in infectious diseases, respiratory issues, skin infections, lice, and diarrhea. With no access to hygiene supplies, assistive devices, or other necessities, tens of thousands of displaced people with disabilities, injuries, and illnesses—including children—continue to suffer in silence.
The health system is nearing total collapse. The remaining health facilities can barely function with people being treated on the floor of hospitals or two to three patients occupying a single bed. Brave health workers are operating in the dark on patients without any anesthesia or painkillers. Critical medications, such as those for cancer and lifesaving drugs like insulin, are in dangerously short supply.”
Project HOPE has team members in the region available for interviews.
