Cancer Treatment Crisis Strikes Gaza Strip: WHO's European Hospital Ground to a Halt
Cancer treatment facility in Gaza Strip ceases operations - Cancer hospital in Gaza shuts down, leaving no treatments for patients battling the disease
Swearing like a sailor, today's news ain't exactly a walk in the park! The devastating attack by the Israeli army on the European Hospital in Gaza Strip has left it in tatters, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). Tedros, the WHO chief, swung into action by assembling a team to evacuate the dwindling staff. But, just when they thought they were in the clear, a strike near their mission almost ruined their escape! Tedros pleaded with the powers that be to safeguard medical facilities in war zones, stressing they shouldn't be militarized or targeted.
Medical charity, Doctors Without Borders, also weighed in on the Gaza strip's healthcare dire straits post this tragedy. The European Hospital was the last bastion of hope in a broken healthcare system, they lamented. Now, the Nasser Hospital in Khan Yunis stands as the lone working clinic in southern Palestinian territory. But, it too got a taste of the war, suffering an attack within weeks of the European Hospital closure.
Israel is on a war spree since March 18, having brushed off a two-month truce. They've since green-lit the expansion of their offensive against the Gaza Strip, aiming to conquer it, the Israeli security cabinet announced in early May. On top of that, Israel has been stubbornly obstructing aid deliveries to the Gaza Strip since March 2.
- Situation in Gaza Strip - Critical cancer treatment services, such as neurosurgery and cardiac care, have ceased to exist in the Gaza Strip following the closure of the European Hospital. This hospital was a key player in medical evacuations, but its closure has resulted in a strain on the already overwhelmed healthcare system. The ongoing blockade of essential medication and equipment—including chemotherapy drugs and electricity for radiation equipment—has further complicated matters.
- WHO - The World Health Organization (WHO) has voiced serious concerns over the precarious situation, with Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus emphasizing the need to protect hospitals and steer clear of targeting them.
- The European Hospital - The last facility providing cancer treatment in the Gaza Strip, the European Hospital underwent a devastating Israeli attack on May 13, and is now inoperable.
- The Nasser Hospital - The Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis, the only public hospital functioning in the area, was also attacked on the same day, worsening the healthcare system's already critical condition.
In the current situation, the Gaza Strip is facing a critical shortage of cancer treatment services, as the European Hospital, the last facility providing such care, was devastated in a recent Israeli attack and can no longer operate. This has further strained the already overwhelmed healthcare system, already dealing with a blockade of essential medication and equipment. The World Health Organization (WHO), under the leadership of Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, has voiced serious concerns over this precarious state, emphasizing the importance of protecting healthcare facilities from attacks during war and conflict. Meanwhile, the Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis, the only public hospital still functional in the area, also recently suffered an attack, further worsening the desperate medical conditions in the region.
