WHO ‘concerned’ over ‘escalating violence, lack of access’ to civilians in northern Gaza

By Muhammet Ikbal Arslan

GENEVA (AA) – The World Health Organization (WHO) raised concerns over the growing violence and restrictions on humanitarian access to people in northern Gaza.

“WHO is concerned over the escalating violence and lack of access imposed on civilians in the north of Gaza,” the WHO Media Unit told Anadolu in a written statement.

“We reiterate our call for sustained facilitation of humanitarian missions and ensuring safety for humanitarian staff, and for a ceasefire,” the statement stressed.

Expressing “grave concern” over the safety of patients and health care workers amid escalating violence and evacuation orders affecting the Kamal Adwan, Al-Awda, and Indonesian hospitals in northern Gaza, the UN agency urged all measures to protect civilians, health care workers, hospitals, and ambulances.

The three hospitals are running at minimal capacity due to severe shortages of fuel, medical supplies, and ongoing military activity nearby, the WHO said.

These were the only three hospitals that were partially operational in northern Gaza, which also lacked any functional primary health care clinics.

While the recent evacuation of patients from Kamal Adwan Hospital aimed at easing the pressure on the hospital’s limited resources, it said the facility remains overwhelmed, receiving at least 50-70 newly injured patients daily.

“After nine attempts, WHO managed to reach Kamal Adwan Al-Sahaba hospitals on October 12, to deliver supplies and fuel,” it said, adding that rising violence in the region has blocked humanitarian missions from reaching people with food and medical supplies.

“In the first half of October, only one UN mission out of 54 to northern Gaza was successfully facilitated,” it said, adding: “The rest were denied, cancelled or impeded.”

Last Saturday, an Israeli airstrike targeted Kamal Adwan Hospital in northern Gaza, killing at least 87 people and injuring dozens, including children. The Israeli strike also destroyed an entire residential block in Beit Lahia in northern Gaza, according to witnesses.

Israel, which has killed more than 42,600 people in the Palestinian enclave since the Oct. 7, 2023 Hamas attack, laid siege to northern Gaza more than two weeks ago, resulting in the deaths of hundreds of civilians.

It also demanded the evacuation of civilians from large swathes, and restricted entry of essential supplies, including food and fuel to the area, according to the UN and rights groups.

*Writing by Merve Berker