Gaza hospital director warns of worsening humanitarian and health crisis

Dr Mohammad Abu Salmiya, director of Al-Shifa Medical Complex, warned on Wednesday that approximately 1.6 million people in the Gaza Strip are at risk of famine and malnutrition amid the continuing humanitarian crisis.

In radio remarks, Abu Salmiya said the at-risk population includes 74,000 children suffering from varying degrees of malnutrition and 25,000 pregnant women facing the risk of severe anemia. He warned that deteriorating conditions are placing increasing strain on Gaza’s healthcare system.

According to Abu Salmiya, rising rates of malnutrition and infectious diseases, combined with shortages of medicines and medical supplies and severe transportation constraints, are pushing the territory toward what he described as a complete health and humanitarian collapse.

He said hospitals continue to receive dozens of people killed or injured each day, including patients with complex injuries requiring specialized surgical care. Abu Salmiya added that some injured children have required amputations and said restrictions on the entry of essential medicines and medical supplies have further complicated treatment.

Abu Salmiya also reported that around 70 percent of ambulances in Gaza are out of service because of shortages of tires, spare parts, and lubricants, warning that this could severely disrupt the transport of patients, medical personnel, and the deceased between different parts of the territory.

He further stated that approximately 4,000 cancer patients are unable to receive chemotherapy and said medical teams are recording between four and five deaths daily among those patients.

In addition, Abu Salmiya said shortages of hormones and other essential medicines have affected kidney dialysis patients, while a lack of insulin pens for children with diabetes has resulted in increased admissions to intensive care units due to complications.

He called for urgent international intervention to facilitate the entry of medical and humanitarian assistance through Gaza’s border crossings, saying healthcare workers are increasingly unable to provide the treatment needed to save the lives of patients.