The World Health Organization condemns the delay in the entry of aid into Gaza

Geneva - Ofoq News - The World Health Organization announced that the introduction of humanitarian aid into Gaza is witnessing “one delay after another,” denouncing a “chronic shortage” of medical supplies.

The representative of the World Health Organization in the Palestinian Territories, Reinhilde van de Weerd, stated that the health situation in the Gaza Strip “is still very catastrophic,” while none of its hospitals are operating at full capacity.

She told reporters in Geneva, in statements she made from Jerusalem: “Sufficient amounts of humanitarian aid are not entering Gaza, and certainly not enough to expand and restore health services effectively.”

She noted that the Israeli approval system for the entry of medical supplies and other humanitarian aid constitutes a major obstacle. "It is a tedious and time-consuming process with no guaranteed results," she said.

Based on the latest WHO analysis, large amounts of medical supplies have been waiting for permission to enter for an average of 74 days, Van de Weerdt said, adding that if not, “we will start this long and complicated process all over again.”

She explained that the approval system is constantly changing with the introduction of new rules.

Van de Weer pointed out that basic medical supplies commonly used in the world have the lowest approval rates, while X-ray machines, sterilization equipment, spare parts for CT scan machines and other essential equipment are “frequently rejected.”

“In the past six months alone, a shipment of prosthetics and assistive devices has been rejected four separate times,” she said.

But she noted that the introduction of medicines was going “relatively well,” with nearly 87 percent approved and only 1 percent rejected.

She continued: "It is not about one obstacle, but rather it is a complete system in which one delay follows another, and behind every delay a patient is waiting."

She said: "We need humanitarian and health supplies to enter Gaza without obstacles, regularly and in large quantities."

She hoped that "Israel would at least ease the restrictions imposed on medical supplies," calling for opening more crossings into the Strip, and providing "clear and announced instructions" regarding procedures and requirements.

She added that success should not be measured by the number of trucks crossing the border, explaining that this “reflects little on whether the actual health needs of the population are being met or not.”

In this regard, she said, "A truck loaded with non-priority supplies, or the arrival of appropriate supplies too late, does not save lives."

These UN statements come in light of the continued intransigence of the Israeli occupation in implementing its obligations under the first phase of the ceasefire agreement, especially with regard to bringing basic and logistical aid into the Gaza Strip.