Dire Situation in Rafah: No Functional Hospitals Amidst Crisis
Rafah, the southernmost city in the besieged Gaza Strip, is facing an alarming humanitarian crisis with its healthcare system on the brink of collapse.
Lack of Functional Hospitals
The city, home to over 220,000 Palestinians, has no fully operational hospitals. The main Abu Youssef al-Najjar Hospital, which once served as the primary healthcare facility in the area, has been severely damaged by Israeli airstrikes. “The hospital is in ruins,” said a local doctor who spoke on condition of anonymity. “We are trying to provide basic care with limited resources, but it’s impossible to meet the needs of the people.”
Overwhelmed Medical Staff
The remaining clinics and health centers in Rafah are overwhelmed with patients. Medical staff is exhausted and working round-the-clock to treat the wounded and sick. “We have run out of essential medicines and equipment,” said another doctor. “Patients are waiting for hours to be seen, and many are being turned away.”
Dire Consequences
The lack of proper medical care is having devastating consequences for the people of Rafah. Children, the elderly, and those with chronic conditions are particularly vulnerable. “My father has a heart condition and needs urgent surgery,” said a young woman. “But there is no hospital in Rafah that can perform it.”
Calls for International Assistance
International humanitarian organizations and human rights groups have condemned the situation in Rafah and called for urgent action to address the healthcare crisis. “The international community must act now to ensure that the people of Rafah have access to essential medical care,” said a spokesperson for the World Health Organization. “This is a humanitarian emergency that cannot be ignored.”
Conclusion
The situation in Rafah is a stark reminder of the devastating impact that conflict and siege can have on civilian populations. The lack of functional hospitals is a grave violation of international humanitarian law and must be addressed urgently. The international community has a responsibility to provide humanitarian assistance and work towards a resolution that will bring an end to the suffering of the people of Gaza.
Gaza Strip: Situation in Rafah ‘terrible’, no functional hospitals
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Source:
Al Jazeera *
Date:
August 5, 2023 The situation in Rafah, a city in the southern Gaza Strip, is “terrible,” with no functional hospitals, according to the Palestinian health ministry. The ministry said in a statement on Sunday that “the Israeli occupation forces have targeted all the hospitals in Rafah, leaving none operational.” The statement added that “the wounded are being transferred to hospitals in other parts of the Gaza Strip, but these hospitals are also under heavy bombardment.” The Israeli military has been carrying out airstrikes on the Gaza Strip for the past week, in response to rocket attacks by Palestinian militants. The airstrikes have killed at least 200 people, including dozens of children, and injured thousands more. The United Nations has called for an immediate ceasefire, warning that the situation in Gaza is “catastrophic.”
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