WHO: War In Gaza Impacts The Health System Of Neighboring Countries

The ambulance convoy in Gaza. (Twitter/@WHO)

JAKARTA - High-ranking World Health Organization (WHO) officials on Tuesday assessed that the health care system of neighboring countries was under pressure, as thousands of critical patients from the Gaza Strip were evacuated for complex wound and disease treatment.

"The chain impact on Egypt, Lebanon, Syria as the direct neighbor of the OPT (occupied Palestinian region) is very significant," said Hanan Balkhy, regional director of the World Health Organization for the Eastern Mediterranean.

Less than half of the 36 hospitals in Gaza functioned partially until May 30, the global agency reported, as most of the medical infrastructure had been destroyed as a result of Israeli attacks that had lasted about eight months.

"Egypt has accommodated a large number of patients, but the need is between at least 7,000 to more than 11,000 patients who require evacuation and treatment and support," he said in a briefing with reporters.

"And they need it at a special hospital," he said.

This has put pressure on "an already fragile health system in neighboring countries."

"It's not like sewing an incision wound," he added, referring to the general injury seen among patients from Gaza.

"You talk about compound fractures, skull fractures, majemuk femur fractures, broken visceral organs. It is very difficult to find and transport patients quickly to get such treatment," he explained.

No medical evacuation has been carried out since May 7, after Israel took over the Rafah crossing, according to the WHO.

He added that the closure of crossings south of the Gaza Strip also significantly affected WHO's ability to deliver critical medical supplies to the enclave.