GENEVA — As the conflict in Gaza enters its second year, the World Health Organization is calling for an end to the "unspeakable suffering" of civilians in Israel and the region and for health care to be protected and not attacked.
The WHO says the horrific attacks by Hamas militants and other armed groups in Israel on October 7 of last year touched off events that have caused tens of thousands of civilian deaths and injuries, as well as the displacement of millions of people in Israel, Gaza, the West Bank, and now in Lebanon.
Dr. Michel Thieren, special WHO representative to Israel, told journalists at a briefing in Geneva Friday that for Israel, the October 7 massacres mark an event as significant and agonizing as the 9/11 terrorist attacks against the World Trade Center and the Pentagon in the United States.
“October 7, 2024, marks one year of captivity for 101 hostages who, from their timeless tunnels [in Gaza] may not realize that yesterday it was their New Year celebration,” he said.
Speaking on a video link from Tel Aviv, he noted that “this Monday will mark one year of a collective trauma that has spared no one in the country, has spread at pandemic speed and has doubled and in some parts tripled the demand for mental health care.”
Meanwhile, in Gaza, where hostilities continue to rage 12 months after Israel attacked the Palestinian enclave, the World Health Organization reports that more than 6% of the population has either been killed or injured, while at least 10,000 people remain buried under the rubble.
Speaking from Jerusalem, Dr. Ayadil Saparbekov, WHO lead for emergencies in the occupied Palestinian territory, said, “The health system has suffered immensely from repeated attacks and an ongoing shortage of supplies, medicines, fuel, and staff.
“Since October 2023, there have been at least 516 attacks on health care in Gaza, resulting in 765 deaths.”
The World Health Organization reports only half of Gaza’s hospitals are partially operational and 43% of primary health care centers are functional.
It notes many essential health services are unavailable, including Gaza's only limb reconstruction center and sole psychiatric hospital. Other critical services, such as oncology and MRI services, specialized pediatric surgery and endocrinology services also are out of commission.
"At least 24,090 people are suffering from life-changing injuries due to the conflict, with no access to rehabilitation or specialized care," Saparbekov said. "We are deeply concerned about the conflict's impact on mental health in Gaza, where more than 485,000 people had already been diagnosed with mental disorders before the war."
The WHO flags malnutrition as another major concern. It said more than 20,000 children have been admitted for malnutrition treatment since January, including 4,437 for severe acute malnutrition, a condition that can lead to death if left untreated.
The U.N. health agency warns communicable diseases are a significant public health threat, with cases of acute watery diarrhea and acute respiratory infections accounting for more than 80% of diseases reported during the first eight months of 2024.
"The poor water, sanitation, and hygiene situation, along with overcrowding in shelters, are the primary drivers of these diseases," Saparbekov said. "These conditions are expected to worsen during winter, likely leading to a further rise in cases."
On a more positive note, he mentioned that preparations are underway for the second round of a polio vaccination campaign, scheduled to begin October 14 and end October 29.
"We have communicated these dates to the Israeli authorities, and we are having a meeting on Sunday to see whether this will be confirmed. We estimate that over 500,000 children between the ages of zero to 10 years will be vaccinated with the novel oral polio vaccine.
"In addition to the polio vaccinations, the children also will receive a dose of vitamin A to boost their immune system," he said.
WHO officials warn that repeated evacuation orders by Israel and ongoing hostilities continue to disrupt humanitarian operations in Gaza.
As the grim one-year anniversary of Hamas' terror attack on Israel nears, they are calling for "effective deconfliction and protection of health care, safe access to health facilities, and sustained aid flow into and across Gaza" to assist the many in desperate need.
