Across the Gaza Strip, which people are desperately searching for food, mass accident events are reported almost daily, UN spokesman Stéphane Dujarric told journalists at his regular briefing in New York.
Hospitals that are already under enormous strain are struggling to cope with and lack essential supplies – including fuel and medicine – put even greater pressure on overstretched teams.
The war has also had a devastating influence on health workers. According to the Gazan health authorities, more than 1,500 medical staff have been killed in Gaza since October 2023.
Medical supplies arrive – but there is a need for much more
The World Health Organization (WHO) reported that 11 trucks carrying medical help, including surgical supplies, aids, orthopedic instruments and other important medical objects, had entered the strip on Tuesday.
These supplies must be distributed to different health facilities throughout Gaza.
“Health needs remain enormous. Much more medical supplies are needed. We require urgent the unobstructed entry of fuel, food and health support in scale to Gaza through all sorts of routes,” Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, as General-Director, said in a social media post.
Mr. Dujarric repeated this message and required the opening of all crossings and corridors “to ensure the consistent, frequent and large distribution of help to people in need wherever they are.”
Disease risk increases
Based on access challenges, the spectrum of deadly outbursts also increases.
In northern Gaza, 10 water wells have stopped operating due to lack of fuel, and another 25 only work partially and could soon shut down.
“Shorter pump hours, reduced water production and limited collection of solid waste provide fruitful reason for diseases to spread – especially among vulnerable people, including children, older people and pregnant women,” Mr. Dujarric.
No hygiene elements have joined Gaza since the beginning of March 2025, he noted, added that the ongoing lack of cleaning and sanitation supplies affects health and prevents an effective medical response.
