World Health Organization: Gaza Strip's largest medical facility becomes a "dead zone"

SGGP November 20, 2023 05:48

On November 19, the World Health Organization (WHO) called for the evacuation of all patients and staff at Al-Shifa Hospital - the largest medical facility in the Gaza Strip. WHO said a humanitarian assessment team had described the hospital as a "death zone".

Mass grave at the hospital entrance

The call came after the WHO led a team of representatives from various United Nations (UN) agencies to assess the humanitarian situation at Al-Shifa Hospital. The WHO statement said the team assessed the situation at the hospital as “desperate”, essentially unable to function as a health facility due to a lack of clean water, fuel, medicines and other essential supplies, while security was very worrying due to shelling and shooting in the area.

According to WHO figures, there are currently 291 patients and 25 medical staff inside Al-Shifa Hospital, including 32 infants in critical condition and more than 20 patients requiring dialysis. The assessment team said they witnessed a mass grave containing more than 80 people at the hospital entrance. Meanwhile, the hospital's corridors and grounds were filled with medical waste and solid waste, increasing the risk of infectious disease outbreaks. The team also witnessed scenes of patients, injured people and medical staff trying to evacuate the hospital as fighting broke out around the medical facility.

The assessment, which took place on November 18, was carried out after the Israeli army requested the evacuation of about 2,500 people temporarily staying at Al-Shifa Hospital. On social network X, WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said that the agency is coordinating with partners to develop an emergency evacuation plan; at the same time, he requested full support to be able to implement this plan. Mr. Ghebreyesus also called for an immediate ceasefire to ensure the sustainable deployment of humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip.

Protesters in Glasgow, Scotland (UK) carried banners with the content "end the genocide" calling for a ceasefire.

Non-stop shooting

Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant said the country's military is moving into the second phase of its ground offensive into the Gaza Strip. Accordingly, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) are still in the West but are moving gradually to the East...

“Hamas has lost its headquarters, tunnels and hideouts, its leaders have been wounded, thousands of its fighters have been killed… the Hamas presence is diminishing. Those in the southern Gaza Strip will soon feel this,” Mr. Gallant said.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Netanyahu declared that Israel will pursue all Hamas members, including those operating outside the Gaza Strip.

According to Reuters, the Washington Post, citing several sources, said that Israel, the US and Hamas have reached a temporary agreement to rescue dozens of hostages, including women and children. In return, there will be a 5-day ceasefire.

According to the details of the deal, the hostages will be released in the coming days, barring last-minute setbacks. The sides will stop fighting for at least five days, in exchange for the release of more than 50 hostages in batches every 24 hours (Hamas is believed to be holding around 240 hostages). The pause in fighting is also intended to allow a significant amount of aid to enter the Gaza Strip. The deal comes after weeks of negotiations between the parties in Qatar.

However, both Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and US officials have said no agreement has been reached.

Source: https://www.sggp.org.vn/to-chuc-y-te-the-gioi-co-so-y-te-lon-nhat-dai-gaza-thanh-vung-chet-choc-post714862.html