Harare, (New Ziana)— The Gaza Strip is facing what health officials describe as an unprecedented humanitarian and medical catastrophe, with hospitals overwhelmed by a surge in patients amid severe shortages of equipment, medicine and basic services, an official said on Tuesday.
In a statement, Palestinian ambassador to Zimbabwe Tamer Almassri said medical facilities across the enclave are receiving more than 500 patients daily, including about 200 suffering from acute respiratory illnesses with severe symptoms, according to local health authorities, with the absence of diagnostic equipment and essential medicines accelerating the spread of disease, deepening an already dire public health crisis.
“The Palestinian Health Ministry is struggling to cope with the situation, as Israel continues to impose a total blockade on essential services and goods. This blockade has severely hindered the ability of medical professionals to provide adequate care, pushing the medical system to the verge of total collapse. The consequences of this blockade are devastating, with nearly 1.9 million people in the Gaza Strip living without adequate shelter due to the ongoing Israeli war,” he said.
He said despite a ceasefire agreement that came into force on October 11 last year, Israeli warplanes have continued to carry out airstrikes in central and southern Gaza, further exacerbating civilian suffering.
Health officials say the strikes have resulted in additional deaths and injuries, undermining efforts to stabilize the situation.
Almassri said since the conflict began on October 7, 2023, the death toll from Israeli military operations has risen to 71 550 Palestinians, with at least 171 365 others wounded.
Since the ceasefire took effect, authorities report an additional 465 fatalities and 1 287 injuries, while 713 bodies have been recovered from beneath the rubble of destroyed buildings.
Almassri condemned the continued blockade, airstrikes and mass displacement, describing them as clear violations of international law and human rights, adding that the ongoing actions demonstrate “a clear intent to destroy the Palestinian people”, and urged the international community to intervene decisively.
“The world must act now,” Almassri said, calling for the immediate lifting of the blockade and the urgent delivery of humanitarian and medical assistance to Gaza’s civilian population.
As fighting and restrictions persist, aid workers warn that without swift international action, the humanitarian and health crisis in Gaza will continue to deteriorate, with devastating consequences for millions of civilians trapped in the besieged territory.
New Ziana
