Children walking near stagnant wastewater on their way to a food distribution point in Deir al Balah, in central Gaza, last week.
The large number of people treated for war injuries — almost 90,000, Gaza’s health ministry says — and the surge in illness have overwhelmed Gaza’s diminished medical system.
The Israeli military has launched two operations at Gaza’s largest hospital, Al-Shifa, fighting deadly battles with militants there.
Before the war, Gaza’s health care system was “reasonably well functional,” said Dr. Rik Peeperkorn, the W.H.O.’s representative to Gaza and the West Bank.
Now, fewer than half of its facilities remain even partly operational, he said, and its health care work force is severely depleted.
Persons:
Sally Thabet, Deir al, “ Amoon, ”, Israel, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, poliovirus, Dr, Hanan Balkhy, —, Balkhy, Rik Peeperkorn, ’
Organizations:
World Health Organization, Hamas, The New York Times, West Bank
Locations:
Deir al Balah, Gaza, Gaza City, Deir, Kandi, Gaza’s, Al, Israel