14 minutes agoO B S: Hunger in Gaza has reached extreme levels, people are dying
Periskopi(a year ago)
(a year ago)Hanan Balkhy, Regional Director of the World Health Organization for the Eastern Mediterranean, declared that hunger and famine have reached very high levels at the Gaza Strip, which is under intensive Israeli attacks and blockades, and that as a result, people are dying. Balkhy answered the Anadolu Agency's questions in [...]
Balkhy answered the Anadolu Agency's questions about the situation in Gaza during the 78th meeting of the World Health Assembly, WHO's highest decision-making body, currently under way in Geneva, Switzerland.
Stressing that the situation in Gaza is devastating, Balkhy said areas and infrastructure very critical to health have been completely destroyed.
“People live in a very difficult environment in terms of health. Hygiene is a health base, and this is missing in Gaza. There is also a collapse in the health care system, only some hospitals offer part or minimal service. There's a lot of shortage of resources. 41 or 42 percent of essential drugs are completely lacking. Similarly, 41 or 42 percent of major vaccines are not in stock. About 64 percent of medical equipment is not available at all”, Balkhy said.
She noted that there are extremely dedicated health workers in Gaza, who are doing their best with those at their disposal.
Balkhy stressed that outbursts of skin rashes, pneumonia, multiple infections and post-traumatic stress disorders are emerging in Gaza, adding that all of this has a negative impact on populations and that the situation does not look good.
Speaking of difficulties in distributing humanitarian aid, Balkhy said:
We have approximately 51 trucks waiting at the border to distribute more help. We're trying to distribute what's in the O warehouse. BSH in several regions. But we have great difficulty bringing 51 trucks to Gaza. In addition, the food that has arrived after the 11th week of blockade (set by Israel) is not enough for needs. In general, hunger and famine in Gaza have reached very high levels. People are too desperate to provide basic food needs. (Because of hunger) the children are also dying. There are people starving. That's very clear. When people don't eat, they die. People are dying without medicine, treatment, and food. ”
Balkhy made it known that the number of those killed in Gaza has exceeded 54,000 and that the actual number may be higher, as many are still in ruins.
I think destruction there is beyond imagination”, it's over. /Periscope/
