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Yousef: Patients in Gaza must be saved urgently

November 14, 2018 at 3:43 pm

Dr Essam Yousef, head of the Popular International Committee to Support Gaza, said that the health sector in Gaza has deteriorated to an unprecedented level as a result of the continued siege and attacks by the Israeli war machine against the Palestinian people in the Strip.

In a statement issued today, Yousef said that the health sector has reached a level of depletion that cannot be ignored, as the institutions are unable to provide adequate and appropriate services to citizens.

He noted that the health sector, including the medical institutions and staff, are suffering and have been experiencing a gradual decline since the imposition of the Israeli blockade of Gaza more than 11 years ago. In addition to this, the wars waged by the occupation on Gaza in 2008, 2012 and 2014 have drained the health sector significantly.

Gaza hospital suspends services due to fuel shortages - Cartoon [Sabaaneh/MiddleEastMonitor]

Gaza hospital suspends services due to fuel shortages – Cartoon [Sabaaneh/MiddleEastMonitor]

Yousef added that the attack by the occupation army against Gaza earlier this week, which deliberately targeted the homes of civilians, and its attacks on peaceful demonstrators participating in the “Great March of Return” have exacerbated the suffering of the health sector and reduced its functionality.

Hospitals and health centres in the Gaza Strip are no longer able to absorb the sick and the wounded, especially as the number of wounded civilians participating in the return marches reached more than 20,000, Yousef warned. This led to hospitals postponing surgeries for thousands of patients, including cancer and cardiac patients.

Yousef urged the international community to immediately save the lives of thousands of patients at risk of death by providing urgent support to the health sector in Gaza. This includes the provision of medications, basic equipment, and medical supplies.

He also called for providing support to medical staff by means of providing salaries, financial allocations and training opportunities.