Severe Drug Shortages In Gaza Raise Serious Threats To Patients' Lives

A humanitarian aid truck from Egypt entered Gaza via Rafah. (Twitter/@PalestinineRCS)

JAKARTA - The United Nations Agency for Assistance and Work for Palestinian Refugees (UNRWA) warned that a severe shortage of medicine and medical equipment in the Gaza Strip poses a serious threat to the patient's life.

In a statement published on its agency's official website, it said the entire health care system in Gaza had been attacked since the start of Israeli aggression, calling for an end to the ongoing blockade imposed by Israeli occupation forces and a ceasefire update.

In the same context, M\"edecins Sans Fronti\'eres (MSF) stated in a report published on Wednesday that Gaza had turned into a mass grave for Palestinians and those who had come to help them.

"We witnessed firsthand the destruction and forced transfer of everyone in Gaza," said Amande Bazerole, MSF's emergency coordinator in Gaza, as reported by WAFA April 17.

"Because there is no safe place for Palestinians or those trying to help them, humanitarian responses are experiencing serious difficulties due to critical insecurity and supply shortages, so people have few, if any, options for accessing treatment."

As Israeli forces continued and expanded their military attacks by air, land, and sea in the Gaza Strip, by forcing people to flee and deliberately obstructing essential aid, Palestinians' lives were once again systematically destroyed, the MSF warned.

"This horrific killing of aid workers is another example of the blatant neglect shown by Israeli forces on the protection of humanitarian and medical workers. The unconditional silence and support of Israel's closest allies further strengthens this action," said MSF General Director Claire Magone.

The MSF called on Israeli authorities to immediately lift the inhuman and deadly siege of Gaza, as well as protect the lives of Palestinians, humanitarian and medical personnel.

The MSF also called for the restoration and preservation of the Palestinian militant group's ceasefire with Israel.