In brief
The last functioning hospital in North Gaza, al-Awda, has been evacuated after orders from the Israeli military, leaving the region without health services. Hospital staff described the evacuation as a dire necessity amid heightened threats, exacerbating the ongoing humanitarian crisis.
The al-Awda hospital in Jabalia, the final medical facility operating in North Gaza, has been rendered non-functional after an Israeli military directive mandated its evacuation. Dr. Mohammed Salha, the hospital’s director, expressed deep concern over the situation, stating that they had endured a "forced evacuation" following two weeks of military pressure. He highlighted the dire state of healthcare in the region, lamenting the absence of any medical services left in the northern governorate.The evacuation took place against a backdrop of intense bombardment, with Dr. Salha reporting that the hospital was targeted by military fire. After a tense day of negotiations, which lasted for seven hours, staff members, faced with the threat of violence, began evacuating patients to awaiting ambulances located far from the hospital due to severely damaged infrastructure. The evacuation footage captured the distressing scene of the staff carrying patients over considerable distances.The World Health Organization (WHO) reported that the hospital could not relocate vital medical equipment because of "impassable roads." Dr. Salha informed the BBC that medical services would now be rerouted to a primary health center in Gaza City, with plans for an additional site in a shelter.The WHO Director-General, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, condemned the closure, emphasizing its catastrophic impact on the community as it eliminates a critical lifeline for residents. He reiterated a plea for the protection of healthcare facilities amid military conflicts.The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) characterized the areas affected as conflict zones, rationalizing their military operations against "terrorist organizations." Hospital representatives indicated that al-Awda had been subjected to repeated attacks, underscoring the severe threats to medical staff and patients alike.As the humanitarian situation deteriorates, the UN agency OCHA disclosed that several primary health centers remain operational throughout Gaza, although it's unclear how many are functional in the northern governorate. Recent violence has caused significant casualties, with the destruction leading to a widespread health crisis.With ongoing discussions regarding aid accessibility and distributions amidst the blockade, international entities express growing concern over what has been described as a critical risk of famine affecting Gaza's population. Calls for humanitarian relief continue, with world leaders urging Israel to facilitate humanitarian access amid a relentless military response to hostilities initiated by Hamas.The existing humanitarian crisis, combined with military engagements and deteriorating living conditions, highlights an escalating emergency, with urgent needs for access to food, medical care, and safety amid ongoing violence in the region.
