Gaza’s Nasser Hospital ‘one massive trauma ward’: WHO
Nasser Hospital in southern Gaza’s Khan Younis city is operating as “one massive trauma ward” due to an influx of patients injured at non-United Nations food distribution sites, the World Health Organization has said.
“They’ve seen already for weeks, daily injuries … and (the) majority coming from the so-called safe non-UN food distribution sites. The hospital is now operating as one massive trauma ward,” Rik Peeperkorn, WHO representative in the Palestinian territory, told a media briefing.
‘A lack of everything’ at Gaza’s Nasser Hospital: WHO
Rik Peeperkorn, the WHO’s representative in Palestine, said the hospital is seeing a daily influx of dozens of patients who are all wounded at the controversial food sites that are not run by the United Nations.
“The hospital is completely overflown with patients,” Peeperkorn told Al Jazeera from Deir el-Balah in central Gaza, after visiting the facility yesterday.
He said there is “a lack of everything, including beds” at the hospital, which is running at nearly double its capacity. “There used to be an intensive care unit with only 15 patients – now there are more than 60 patients on the ICU.”
The desperate situation has led to the creation of makeshift, ad hoc units to treat those in need, Peeperkorn added. “We saw patients on the floor being intubated, on the stretchers, etc,” he said. “It’s incredible.”
The UN health agency’s representative in Palestine said most of the patients were treated for bullet wounds. “And it’s everywhere; it’s in the head, the neck, the chest, the abdomen and the knees,” he added.
Peeperkorn highlighted the cases of a 13-year-old boy and a 16-year-old boy who are fighting for their lives after being shot while attempting to get much-needed aid.
“Their families … had doubts to send out their children to get the so-called food boxes from these so-called ‘safe’, non-UN food distribution sites – and this is what happened, they got shot,” he said.
“I mean it’s insane, people who are desperate for food, that getting a little bit of food supply – no one should have to risk their lives, get killed or get injured,” Peeperkorn added.
“Gaza needs to be flooded by food. It needs to be flooded by water, essential medicines and medical supplies and a regular flow of fuel. And above all, of course, we need a ceasefire – and we need it now.”
