WHO: Gaza Healthcare Services on Brink of Collapse

Local Editor

Health care services in Gaza are on the brink of collapse as the death toll climbs amid a shortage of medical supplies and fuel for hospital generators, the WHO has warned.

As "Israel" escalated its airstrikes on Thursday, the Gaza Health Ministry reported that the death toll had reached more than 90 people, while the number of injured had climbed to 500.

Meanwhile, the World Health Organization [WHO] said on Thursday that Palestinian healthcare services are not able to handle the wave of people requiring medical attention.

"A hospital, three clinics and a water desalinization center in a refugee camp have also been damaged. More air strikes and missile attacks are likely," the WHO said in a statement.
"The recent escalation of violence in the Gaza Strip raises concern about the ability of the government and the Ministry of Health of the occupied Palestinian territory to cope with the increased burden of medical emergencies on the health system, given the high levels of shortages of medicines, medical disposables and hospital fuel supplies, and rising healthcare debt," it added.

The organization is calling on donors to contribute $40 million for essential healthcare supplies by the end of 2014 and another $20 million to repay the debt owed to East Al-Quds hospitals.

Meanwhile, the International Committee of the Red Cross [ICRC] has called on the Zionist entity and Hamas to protect the lives of civilians and medical workers.

The organization also condemned the attack on the Palestine Red Crescent branch in Jabaliya, where a dozen staff members and volunteers were wounded and three ambulances destroyed on July 9.

Source: News Agencies, Edited by website team