‘Urgent action’ needed as Gaza is at risk of complete medical shutdown

Immediate action is required to prevent a complete shutdown of medical services in Gaza, the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) warned on Thursday. 

“Every functioning hospital in the Gaza Strip is overcrowded and short on medical supplies, fuel, food and water. Many are housing thousands of displaced families. And now two more facilities risk being lost due to the fighting,” said William Schomburg, head of the ICRC’s office in Gaza.

“The cumulative impact on the health system is devastating and urgent action must be taken.”

The Nasser Medical Complex and the European Hospital are the primary referral hospitals in the south of Gaza, now serving about two million people.