Gaza health system collapsing as aid blocked for two months

The World Health Organization (WHO) has warned that Gaza’s health system is on the verge of collapse as no medical or humanitarian aid has been allowed in for two months due to an Israeli blockade.

People in Gaza now lack essential needs — food, clean water, shelter, and medical care. Hospitals are overcrowded and critically under-supplied. “There is no blood, no IV fluids, no antibiotics, not even swabs for cleaning wounds,” a WHO spokesperson said.

Fear of hospital attacks has also left many wounded avoiding treatment. Israel’s ongoing bombardment has caused severe traumatic injuries, often worsened by malnutrition and unhygienic conditions.

Infectious diseases are spreading rapidly in crowded shelters. Diarrhoea and wound infections are rising, and children are especially vulnerable.

Only 21 hospitals are partly functional along with four field hospitals, none of which have enough beds or equipment. Many patients are treated in corridors or sent home before recovery, leading to avoidable deaths.

WHO has vital supplies stored near Gaza, including 16 trucks waiting at Al Arish, but they remain blocked from entry. “We’re close to running out of everything,” said the WHO representative.

Despite the restrictions, WHO teams in Gaza continue to monitor disease outbreaks and help evacuate critical patients. However, the situation remains dire, and health workers are operating under extreme pressure.