About 350,000 people with chronic illnesses in Gaza need medicine

On Jan 16, 2024 5:13 PM

GAZA, Jan. 16 (YPA) – At least 350,000 people are suffering from chronic diseases without medication, the Ministry of Health in Gaza said on Tuesday in a statement.

The statement called on international institutions to provide medicines urgently, while the Israeli occupation’s continuing its aggression against the Gaza Strip, causing the death and injury of tens of thousands of civilians.

While the Secretary-General of the Norwegian Refugee Council, Jan Egeland, said that hospitals in the Gaza Strip have practically collapsed, adding that civilians are being starved, and many promises to Gaza have not been fulfilled, and that there is no escape for civilians.

For its part, the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) said the Israel has doubled the restrictions on the access of relief missions to the Gaza Strip, and warned of an increase in health and environmental risks as a result since the beginning of 2024.

According to OCHA, “Israeli authorities denied access to almost 95 percent (18 of 19) of missions, which included the distribution of fuel and medicines to water tanks, and health facilities in the northern Gaza Valley.”

While the United Nations warned that the lack of fuel for water, sanitation and hygiene increases health and environmental risks, pointing out that “the lack of medicines has weakened the performance of the six (remaining) hospitals that are partially operating.”