World Health Organization: Health conditions in the occupied Palestinian territories are witnessing devastation affecting health and lives

SadaNews - The World Health Organization for the Eastern Mediterranean Region described the destruction affecting health and human lives in the occupied Palestinian territories, including East Jerusalem, as a "severe tragedy".

The organization's director, Dr. Hanan Balkhi, stated in a statement issued by the regional office today, Thursday, that "since October 2023, over 72,000 people have been killed, and 182,000 others have been injured, noting that in 2025 alone, around 26,000 additional deaths were reported".

She explained that even after the ceasefire in October 2025, the killing of civilians continued, health services remained disrupted, and access to humanitarian aid remained restricted.

She pointed out that there are currently no fully functioning hospitals in Gaza, confirming that no hospitals at all are operational in North Gaza, while more than half of essential medicines have run out, at a time when thousands of patients still need urgent medical evacuation.

She indicated that infectious diseases continue to spread amidst overcrowding and deteriorating health conditions, while the mental health needs are immense, and the risks threatening mothers and newborns are sharply rising.

Regarding the West Bank, she confirmed that conditions are still worsening due to escalating violence and travel restrictions, noting that the financial crisis facing the Palestinian Authority has severely limited health care, with public hospitals only providing emergency services.

She explained that the organization and its partners continue to work under extremely harsh conditions, stating that the organization has called for $648 million to fund the health response in 2025, but more than 75 percent of this amount has not been funded to date.

She added that despite these restrictions, the organization provided the necessary support to deliver more than 4,000 metric tons of emergency medical supplies to Gaza, facilitated fuel deliveries that sustained the health system, and continued to expand emergency care and treatment for the injured in the West Bank.

The regional director emphasized that political statements alone are insufficient to continue humanitarian operations, calling for the protection of health care, continued access to humanitarian aid, and lifting restrictions that impede access to essential medical supplies and emergency medical teams.

She also called for continued international support to restore and expand health services, reduce reliance on medical evacuation, and reopen referral pathways from the West Bank.