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‘Tens of thousands’ of Palestinians flee south of Gaza due to bombardment — WHO

WHO staff delivering humanitarian aid to Al-Shifa Hospital in the north of the enclave and Al-Amal Hospital in the south saw "tens of thousands of people fleeing heavy strikes in the Khan Younis and Middle Area, on foot, riding on donkeys, or in cars"

GENEVA, December 27. /TASS/. Tens of thousands of Palestinians have been forced to flee to the south of the Gaza Strip after intensive bombardment carried out by Israel in the central part of the enclave and Khan Yunis, the World Health Organization (WHO) said, expressing concern over the increased pressure on medical facilities in the south of the Strip and the intensified risk of infectious diseases.

WHO staff delivering humanitarian aid to Al-Shifa Hospital in the north of the enclave and Al-Amal Hospital in the south saw "tens of thousands of people fleeing heavy strikes in the Khan Younis and Middle Area, on foot, riding on donkeys, or in cars," according to the organization's report. They are building shelters from improvised materials along the road. "WHO is extremely concerned this fresh displacement of people will further strain health facilities in the south, which are already struggling to meet the population’s immense needs," Richard Peeperkorn, the WHO Representative in WHO's office for the West Bank and Gaza, said. "This forced mass movement of people will also lead to more overcrowding, increased risk of infectious diseases, and make it even harder to deliver humanitarian aid," he emphasized.

The WHO added that currently only 13 out of 36 hospitals in Gaza are partially functioning, while two are functioning at the lowest capacity possible. As many as 21 hospitals are not functioning.

The WHO expressed grave concern over reports that those living near the large Nasser Medical Complex in southern Gaza have been ordered to evacuate. "When military activities intensify near the hospital, ambulances, patients, staff, and WHO and partners will be unable to reach the complex, and this key hospital will quickly become barely functional," Peeperkorn stated. "This scenario was witnessed all too often in the North. Gaza can not afford to lose any more hospitals. WHO is working to strengthen and expand the existing struggling health system," he noted.

WHO officials outlined the severe food crisis in Gaza. "Hungry people again stopped our convoys today in the hope of finding food," the organization said. The WHO emphasized that getting medicine and fuel to the enclave is facing difficulties due to the "hunger and desperation" of Gazans.