The WHO director-general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said that it could further strain the already fragile health system in the region, which has been providing shelter to approximately 1.2 million people.
“WHO is deeply concerned that a full-scale military operation in Rafah, Gaza, could lead to a bloodbath, and further weaken an already broken health system,” Tedros posted on X (formerly Twitter).
In response to the looming threat, the WHO has announced contingency plans to address the anticipated surge in casualties and deaths. However, Rik Peeperkorn, the WHO representative in the Palestinian territories, emphasized that these measures are merely temporary solutions and will not be sufficient to prevent the substantial loss of life that a military operation in Rafah would cause.
The ongoing conflict has already taken a heavy toll on Gaza’s health infrastructure, with only a fraction of the territory’s hospitals and primary health facilities remaining partially functional.
The WHO is working to restore and revive health services in the region, focusing on the Nasser Medical Complex in Khan Yunis and establishing additional medical sites. However, Peeperkorn warned that the already strained health system would be unable to cope with the potential scale of devastation caused by an incursion.
Furthermore, a military operation in Rafah could trigger a new wave of displacement, exacerbating the existing challenges of overcrowding, limited access to essential resources, and the increased risk of disease outbreaks. The WHO has called for an immediate and lasting ceasefire and the removal of obstacles hindering the delivery of urgent humanitarian assistance to Gaza.
The Gaza war, which began after an unprecedented attack on southern Israel by the Palestinian militant group Hamas on October 7, 2023, has claimed the lives of 1,170 people, mostly civilians, according to Israeli official figures. The Israeli military offensive has resulted in the deaths of more than 34,000 people in Gaza, primarily women and children, as reported by the health ministry in the Hamas-run territory.
(With AFP inputs)
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