60% of medicines depleted, essential services at risk, says Gaza Health Ministry

By Mohamed Majed

GAZA CITY, Palestine (AA) – Some 60% of essential medicines and 83% of medical supplies in besieged Gaza have been depleted due to the ongoing war and Israel's controls and closure of border crossings, the Gaza Health Ministry said Saturday, sounding the alarm.

In a statement, the ministry warned of the unprecedented crisis in medicines and medical supplies, decrying the severe impact on the lives of patients and the wounded.

“Hospitals and health centers are facing acute shortages of medicines and medical supplies," the statement said.

The depletion of these resources could “lead to a complete halt in critical medical services, including emergency care, surgeries, intensive care, dialysis, primary healthcare, and mental health services,” it warned.

The statement called on international and UN-affiliated organizations to “urgently intervene and provide the necessary medicines and medical supplies.”

Since the outbreak of the war last Oct. 7, Israel has cut off electricity to Gaza, blocked fuel shipments needed for the operation of the territory's sole power plant, and halted the supply of water, communication, food, and medical aid, while also sealing off border crossings.

Currently, only limited medical supplies and international aid are entering Gaza through Israel, which is far from sufficient to meet the needs of a population struggling to endure catastrophic humanitarian and health conditions.

Israel has continued its offensive on the Gaza Strip since it began following an attack by the Palestinian group Hamas last Oct. 7, despite a UN Security Council resolution calling for an immediate cease-fire.

The onslaught has resulted in over 40,300 Palestinian deaths, mostly women and children, and over 93,300 injuries, according to local health authorities.

An ongoing blockade of Gaza has led to severe shortages of food, clean water and medicine, leaving much of the region in ruins.

Israel faces accusations of genocide at the International Court of Justice, which has ordered a halt to military operations in the southern city of Rafah, where over one million Palestinians had sought refuge before the area was invaded on May 6.

*Writing by Ikram Kouachi