In a devastating revelation, drone footage has exposed the catastrophic scale of damage inflicted upon Gaza’s healthcare system by recent Israeli airstrikes. According to a sobering report from the World Health Organization (WHO), an astonishing 80% of Gaza’s healthcare infrastructure has been decimated, leaving the majority of the region’s hospitals either partially operational or completely shuttered.
Hospitals Crippled, Healthcare in Crisis
The drone footage, released by the WHO, paints a grim picture of the aftermath of the Israeli offensive. Of Gaza’s 36 hospitals, a mere 16 remain partially functional, while a staggering 20 have been forced to close their doors entirely. The destruction has dealt a crushing blow to an already strained healthcare system, leaving countless Palestinians without access to critical medical care.
The scale of the damage is truly staggering. It’s hard to fathom how Gaza’s healthcare system will recover from this devastation.
– Dr. Ahmed Al-Mandhari, WHO Regional Director for the Eastern Mediterranean
Key Hospitals Reduced to Rubble
Among the hardest-hit facilities are some of Gaza’s most vital hospitals:
- Kamal Adwan Hospital: Severely damaged, with multiple wings destroyed
- Al-Shifa Hospital: Gaza’s largest hospital, now only partially operational
- Al-Awda Hospital: Completely closed due to extensive structural damage
- Indonesian Hospital: Rendered inoperable, unable to provide any services
The loss of these critical healthcare facilities has left thousands of injured and ill Palestinians with nowhere to turn for treatment. Makeshift clinics and field hospitals are struggling to cope with the overwhelming demand, as medical supplies dwindle and essential equipment lies in ruins.
A Long Road to Recovery
As the dust settles on the latest round of violence, the people of Gaza are left to grapple with the daunting task of rebuilding their shattered healthcare system. International aid organizations are mobilizing to provide emergency support, but the road to recovery will be long and arduous.
We are committed to standing with the people of Gaza as they work to rebuild their hospitals and restore access to lifesaving care. But the international community must also step up and provide the resources needed for a sustainable recovery.
– Robert Mardini, Director-General of the International Committee of the Red Cross
As the world watches, the resilience of the Palestinian people will be put to the ultimate test. With their hospitals in ruins and their healthcare system on the brink of collapse, they face an uphill battle to ensure that no one is left without the medical care they so desperately need. The international community must not turn a blind eye to this unfolding crisis, but rather stand in solidarity with Gaza as it begins the long and difficult process of healing.
