United Nations (Web Desk): The humanitarian situation in Gaza has reached catastrophic levels, with over 12,000 critically ill and injured people, including more than 5,000 children, urgently needing evacuation due to a collapsing health system.
Medical facilities are overwhelmed and struggling to provide essential care, and the mental health crisis is escalating.
Residents are enduring profound psychological distress, with stress, anxiety, depression, and isolation pervasive throughout the population.
The toll on health workers is equally severe as they face not only the physical demands of treating the injured but also the emotional strain of witnessing the devastation.
Before the conflict, Gaza had more than 3,500 hospital beds, but now only around 1,900 remain.
The scarcity of intensive care units and newborn incubators is adding to the challenges, and medical teams are overwhelmed as they try to treat critical patients. The situation is particularly alarming in northern Gaza, where medical facilities are either destroyed or severely damaged, and there are reports of limited psychiatric support.
The area has only two psychiatrists left to provide care for an entire region that is now overwhelmed with psychological distress.
In addition to the immediate healthcare crisis, Gaza faces a dire shortage of clean water, food, and other essential resources.
The water infrastructure has been severely damaged, leaving many without reliable access to safe drinking water. Humanitarian organizations are distributing water and providing sanitation services, but their efforts are far from sufficient to meet the needs of the population.
Even as they repair some of the water systems, progress remains slow due to the destruction of roads and debris.
While these immediate needs are being addressed, the broader human suffering continues, with widespread displacement, hunger, and inadequate medical care.
The international community is under increasing pressure to expedite evacuation efforts, ensure the delivery of life-saving aid, and assist in restoring vital infrastructure.
In the West Bank, tensions are escalating as Israeli military operations intensify, further complicating the delivery of aid to those who need it most.
The urgency of this crisis cannot be overstated. As the situation continues to worsen, there is an increasing need for coordinated efforts to provide not just physical relief but also long-term solutions to address the profound psychological impact and rebuilding efforts that will be required once the immediate crisis has passed.
