…Critical medical supplies denied as patients endure perilous conditions during hospital transfer under fire.
By Bunmi Yekini
In the midst of relentless hostilities and mounting humanitarian crises in Gaza, a high-risk World Health Organization (WHO)-led mission on 21 October successfully transferred 14 patients and 10 caregivers from Kamal Adwan Hospital in North Gaza to Al-Shifa Hospital in Gaza City. Despite the mission’s success, it was marred by severe delays, security screenings, and life-threatening conditions along the way.
The operation, which began on 20 October, faced significant challenges from the outset. An agreement to deliver essential medical supplies, including blood and fuel critical to keeping Kamal Adwan and Al-Awda hospitals operational, was rescinded mere hours before the mission commenced. Without these supplies, the already struggling hospitals in North Gaza continue to teeter on the brink of collapse.
The two-day mission encountered extensive delays at checkpoints, forcing the team to stay overnight at Kamal Adwan Hospital due to active conflict that prevented their clearance to Al-Shifa. Throughout the night, the area surrounding Kamal Adwan was subjected to heavy bombardment, creating a tense and dangerous environment for the patients, health workers, and the mission team. It wasn’t until midday on 21 October that the team was able to move forward.
Even as they approached Al-Shifa Hospital, the convoy was stopped for security checks, during which patients were removed from ambulances for further screening. Disturbingly, some patients on stretchers were left lying on the ground for extended periods, while some of the mission’s staff were reportedly subjected to humiliating treatment by security forces.
This operation marked WHO’s fourth mission to North Gaza in October alone, a testament to the escalating need for medical interventions in the region. Of the 21 missions requested by WHO this month, only six have been facilitated, with the majority either denied or delayed due to the ongoing conflict.
Kamal Adwan Hospital, one of the last two functional hospitals in North Gaza, remains barely operational. With a dwindling supply of medical resources and fuel, it continues to treat an overwhelming number of patients, including 15 in intensive care, seven of whom are children. Over the past two days, the hospital has received at least 200 severely injured people and 53 deceased. Further compounding the situation, a strike near the hospital on 22 October caused damage to its gate, highlighting the precarious nature of its operations.
Road damage and hostilities have also made it increasingly difficult for patients, ambulances, and medical staff to safely access the hospital. WHO has raised alarms that if the hospital remains cut off from resupply or if access continues to be blocked, Kamal Adwan Hospital could soon become non-functional, leaving North Gaza without any healthcare facilities.
The World Health Organization continues to call for unimpeded access to healthcare facilities, timely facilitation of humanitarian missions, and sustained aid to flow into Gaza. With hostilities intensifying and medical resources dwindling, WHO stresses the urgent need for international intervention to prevent a complete collapse of healthcare in the region.
As the situation in Gaza grows increasingly dire, WHO has reiterated its call for a ceasefire to protect lives, healthcare, and access to vital medical supplies, warning that without immediate action, the loss of healthcare infrastructure could escalate the humanitarian catastrophe.