The “Economist” magazine highlighted the deteriorating humanitarian situation in the medical sector in the Gaza Strip, as a result of Israeli military operations.
The magazine stated that “medical buildings and staff are destroyed… Of the 35 hospitals and clinics in Gaza assessed by the United Nations, 6 were razed to the ground; 11 are out of service; and only parts of 18 hospitals can be used,” noting that many health facilities are located in the Israeli-controlled part, making them difficult to access for most Palestinians.
According to the magazine:
* Of the 18 hospitals and clinics that are partially functioning.
* 16 are unable to safely dispose of infectious medical waste.
* 15 suffer from an unreliable supply of electricity.
* 13 lack adequate sanitation facilities.
* 11 suffer from a shortage of clean water.
* Only 74 intensive care beds and 215 emergency beds remain.
* Basic supplies such as fuel, medicine, IV solutions, needles and gauze are scarce or unavailable. There are no MRI machines in northern Gaza, and only one CT scanner is functioning.
The report stated that critically ill newborns are forced to share incubators. At Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis, the largest in southern Gaza, the main sterilization machine was destroyed by gunfire during military operations and has not been replaced.
The situation in Gaza is “catastrophic.”
The magazine said: “Doctors treating amputations, burns and limb or spinal injuries have only 5 sets of skin grafting instruments in the entire sector.”
British surgeon Dr. Victoria Rose said: “Normally each hospital has at least 4 sets.”
According to the magazine, Israel continues to prevent the entry of any materials it deems “dual-use” into Gaza, including surgical instruments, X-ray machines, and solar-powered refrigerators for storing medicines.
Aid workers say Israeli officials are confiscating stethoscopes and surgical glasses.
At least 1,722 healthcare workers have been killed during military operations, representing about 10% of the workforce. About 80 of those arrested are believed to remain in Israeli prisons, according to the report.
According to the report, the damage is not limited to the physical side. Experts expect that every child in Gaza has suffered psychological trauma that will have a significant impact on their behavioral, psychological and emotional development.
Child psychologist Catherine Glatz-Brubach said: “They have all lived under direct threat to their lives every day. They have all lost family members or friends. They have all seen torn bodies.”
Rebuilding the healthcare system will take years, and the World Health Organization estimates the cost at between $7 billion and $8 billion.
The Hamas-run Ministry of Health has developed a 49-page “early recovery plan” and estimates that rebuilding a “smarter, more sustainable” health system will take 5 years.
