WHO: Desperation increases in Gaza hospitals amid severe hunger

The World Health Organization announced that it led a mission to barely functioning hospitals in northern Gaza over the weekend, describing the growing despair and hunger that prompted residents to seize supplies from an aid truck.

The Director-General of the organization, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, stated late Sunday via X that the UN-affiliated organization and its partners delivered aid, including fuel, to the devastated Al-Shifa Hospital in Gaza, which was previously the largest and most advanced medical facility in the Palestinian territory.

Tedros explained that participants in the December 23rd mission witnessed "growing despair due to acute hunger."

He added, "Partners are calling for an immediate increase in food and water to ensure the health and stability of the population."

Tedros warned that "the continuing hostilities and the huge numbers of wounded have exhausted" the Al-Shifa Complex.

The UN official expressed his hope that delivering 19,200 liters of generator fuel on Saturday would help resume vital services in the hospital, which can currently only provide "the simplest first aid."

AFP