Israel’s Bombing on Rafah could halt the last Functioning hospital, WHO says
According to a WHO spokeswoman in case Israel launches a “full incision” into the southern Gaza city of Rafah, the last operational hospital in the area may shut down shortly. Richard Peeperkorn, head of the World Health Organization in Gaza and the occupied territory of West Bank said this on the sidelines of the World Health Assembly in Geneva on Tuesday.
“If the continuance of this incursion persists, the last hospital in Rafah is unsustainable,” said Peeperkorn passionately. He said that contingency plans with field hospitals, which were insufficiently equipped, would not adequately slow the rise in mortality and sickness rates when the bombs fell.
It is claimed that Israeli tanks have also entered Rafah’s central part deepening the already grim humanitarian crisis. Al Jazeera’s Hani Mahmoud reported from Deir el-Balah in central Gaza that Israeli tanks are “pushing deeper into Rafah” from two main directions: into the central part of Philadelphi towards the city centre and from the eastern side of Rafah to the al-Awda roundabout.
The attack now in the third week has enraged the international community again after an air strike yesterday brought flames to a tented area in a western part of Rafah; 45 bumped off on the spot. Hamas was declared to be the primary victim of the attack; Israel also stated that its primary goal was to hit two high-ranking Hamas commanders and the attack was not planned to result in the deaths of civilians.
The recent air raids by the Israeli forces in Rafah had further worsened the positions of humanitarian conditions. On Tuesday, another Israeli raid murdered 21 Palestinians and wounded many others in an area with some tents where the displaced people live in al-Mawasi, west of Rafah, Palestinian medical sources said.
According to Peeperkorn, only one of the three hospitals in Rafah is running, and it is also in very bad condition. The dialysis centre, the Abu Youssed Al-Najar Hospital, which earlier treated 700 patients, is shut down. Mahmoud of Al Jazeera also pointed out that the voice conversation showed that Rafah, including the Kuwait Specialist Hospital area, has been out of service due to artillery shelling. Three field hospitals in western Rafah are also out of service.
The Rafah border has been very significant in serving as a humanitarian corridor. Still, due to the escalation of the military campaign in recent months and the complete control over the crossing, Humanitarian assistance has been seriously affected. Peeperkorn pointed out that the Rafah crossing has severely affected the WHO’s capacity to deliver medical goods and supplies as 99% of the stock includes all essential medicines and equipment, predominantly from El Arish in Egypt. At the moment, 60 trucks which are loaded with medical supplies are stuck in El Arish.
Since the closure, WHO has been able to bring only three medical supply trucks via Karem Abu Salem, which the Israelis refer to as Kerem Shalom. This halt has dramatically affected the medical evacuations, the operations of which have ceased since the start of the offence.
Speaking to the press, WHO spokesperson Margaret Harris said medical evacuations are crucial. Since the evacuation has been suddenly stopped due to the ongoing offence, more people will die waiting for medical help. Around, 10,000 to 15,000 people in Gaza are believed to need vital medical evacuation, but hundreds have been able to abandon the territory since October 7.
The current fighting and the worsening conditions in Rafah only accentuate the necessity for international engagement and assistance to help save the lives of trapped citizens and provide possible assistance to keep the medical institutions.
