The World Health Organization (WHO) stated yesterday that there has been little to no improvement in the amount of food allowed into Gaza since the ceasefire, and the situation regarding hunger remains dire.
WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus informed reporters that “the situation continues to be catastrophic due to insufficient food supplies entering Gaza.”
He warned that “hunger persists owing to a lack of food” since the United States brokered ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas took effect on October 10.
During the conflict, Israel repeatedly halted aid to Gaza, worsening the humanitarian crisis, which the United Nations claims has led to famine in parts of the besieged Palestinian territory.
Despite the agreement, which was facilitated by former President Donald Trump and allows for the entry of 600 trucks daily, only between 200 and 300 trucks are currently making it into Gaza each day, according to the WHO Director-General.
He noted that many of the trucks entering Gaza are “commercial vehicles,” highlighting that many residents lack the financial means to purchase goods, which “reduces the number of beneficiaries.”
Ghebreyesus commended the perseverance of the ceasefire despite reported violations, but cautioned that “the crisis is not over yet, and the needs are enormous.”
He added that “even though the flow of aid has increased, it still addresses only a tiny fraction of the overall needs.”
The healthcare system in Gaza has been severely impacted since the onset of the Israeli conflict following the Hamas attacks on October 7, 2023.
The Director-General stated, “No hospitals are fully operational in Gaza; only 14 out of 36 are still functioning. There is a critical shortage of medicines, equipment, and essential healthcare personnel.”
He reported that since the ceasefire commenced, WHO has been sending larger quantities of medical supplies to hospitals and deploying additional emergency medical teams while working to expand medical evacuation efforts.
He indicated that “the total cost of rebuilding the healthcare system in Gaza is no less than seven billion dollars.”
Nabil Tabal, WHO’s health emergency program official, cited figures from the Gaza Ministry of Health, revealing that 89 individuals have been killed and approximately 317 injured since the ceasefire began.
Tedros added that “more than 170,000 people have been injured in Gaza, including over 5,000 amputees and 3,600 with serious burns.”
He pointed out that WHO facilitated the evacuation of 41 patients along with 145 companions on Wednesday, but warned that “15,000 patients still require treatment outside Gaza, including 4,000 children.”
Tedros urged more countries to strengthen their efforts to welcome individuals from Gaza needing specialized care and called on Israel to “open all crossings to allow more patients to receive treatment in Egypt.”
He confirmed that since the war’s beginning, “over 700 individuals have died waiting for evacuation.”