UN envoy: ‘Ongoing health disaster’ in Gaza

UN Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process Nickolay Mladenov told the UN Security Council that the Gaza Strip is living an “ongoing health disaster”.

In a statement, a copy of which sent to MEMO, Mladenov’s media officer Murad Bakri said that the UN envoy yesterday briefed the UN Security Council about the situation in the occupied Palestinian territories.

“Amongst our many humanitarian concerns,” Mladenov said, “today, I must highlight the ongoing health disaster in the Gaza Strip.”

“According to local interlocutors, as of the end of January, stock levels for 46 per cent of essential medicines have been completely depleted.”

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The UN envoy added: “On 18 February the IDF [Israeli army] enabled a shipment of medicines worth some NIS 4 million [$1.2 million] to enter Gaza. This shipment will somewhat alleviate the dire situation.”

“However, I take this opportunity to encourage the Palestinian Government to work with the UN and to increase its efforts to help resolve Gaza’s ongoing health crisis.”

The Gaza Strip has been under a strict Israeli siege for over 13 years.

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