Health Ministry: Gaza dangerously low on medicines due to closure of Rafah crossing

inistry of Health of the Palestinian government in Gaza announced that hospitals have now run out of 30 per cent of all basic medicines and essential medical supplies due to the continued closure of the Rafah crossing on the border with Egypt.

During a press conference that was held at the Ministry of Information on Sunday, the Minister of Health, Dr Mufiz Al-Makhalalati, told reporters that, “The semi-complete closure of the Rafah crossing has resulted in causing the depletion of 145 types of medicines and medical supplies, which form 30 per cent of the basic list.”

He explained that the closure of the Rafah crossing has led to nearly 450 patients being denied treatment, with doctors having to refer them instead to Egyptian hospitals.

Al-Makhalalati added that, “We have recorded the death of three patients since the blockade was tightened after the Rafah crossing was closed by the Egyptian authorities more than nine months ago.”

He noted that the closure of the Rafah crossing has negatively impacted the health sector in other ways as well, for example preventing delegations of medical specialists from entering into the Strip.

Al-Makhalalati appealed to the international community, human rights organisations and the International Committee of the Red Cross to put pressure on the Israeli occupation to lift the siege of Gaza, to allow Palestinians freedom of movement and the entry of medicines and basic construction materials needed to meet the basic needs of the population.

He demanded that the Arab Republic of Egypt lift the suffering of the Palestinian people and open the Rafah crossing, it being a Palestinian-Egyptian crossing for both directions.

Since the beginning of July of last year, the Egyptian authorities have closed the Rafah crossing almost entirely, even though it is the only exit for the residents of the Gaza Strip, partially opening the crossing every now and then for humanitarian cases only.