Lots of the wounded have been cared for in Al-Shifa Hospital in Gaza since early October 2023. Photograph from 15 October 2023. Credit score: WHO
12 November 2023 — WHO has misplaced communication with its contacts in Al-Shifa Hospital in northern Gaza. As horrifying reviews of the hospital going through repeated assaults proceed to emerge, we assume our contacts joined tens of 1000’s of displaced individuals who had sought shelter on the hospital grounds and are fleeing the realm. There are reviews that some individuals who fled the hospital have been shot at, wounded and even killed.
Over the previous 48 hours, Al-Shifa Hospital–which is the biggest medical complicated in Gaza–has been reportedly attacked a number of occasions, leaving a number of folks useless and lots of others injured. The intensive care unit suffered harm from bombardment, whereas areas of the hospital the place displaced folks have been sheltering have additionally been broken. An intubated affected person reportedly died when electrical energy was at one level lower.
The final reviews mentioned that the hospital was surrounded by tanks. Employees reported lack of unpolluted water and threat of the final remaining crucial capabilities, together with ICUs, ventilators and incubators, quickly shutting down as a result of lack of gasoline, placing the lives of sufferers at speedy threat.
WHO has grave issues for the security of the well being employees, tons of of sick and injured sufferers, together with infants on life assist and displaced individuals who stay contained in the hospital. The variety of inpatients is reportedly virtually double its capability, even after proscribing companies to lifesaving emergency care.
Sufferers searching for well being care ought to by no means be uncovered to concern, and well being employees who’ve taken an oath to deal with them ought to by no means be compelled to threat their very own lives to offer care.
WHO calls once more for an instantaneous ceasefire in Gaza as the one option to save lives and cut back the horrific ranges of struggling. Hospitals, sufferers, well being employees, and individuals sheltering in well being services are protected below the Geneva Conventions and Worldwide Humanitarian Legislation.
WHO additionally requires the sustained, orderly, unimpeded and secure medical evacuations of critically injured and sick sufferers into Egypt by the Rafah Border Crossing.
All hostages ought to obtain applicable medical care and be launched unconditionally.
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