The impact of Israel’s blockade on Gaza— including the restriction of life-saving medical supplies, food, and fuel—has intensified significantly over the last four months.
As a result, Relief International’s local partner Al Awda Association has reported that almost half (47%) of medicines considered essential have been depleted in Gaza.
While some limited supplies have been allowed to enter in the past few weeks, there is nowhere near enough to meet the catastrophic level of need.
Blockade causing deathly medicine crisis
Specifically anesthesia, antibiotics and painkillers are nearing depletion. Half of medicine used for maternal and child health, as well as medicines for chronic conditions like cancer, diabetes, and blood disease are severely limited.
Laboratory reagents—substances used to make life-saving diagnoses—are in critically short supply, and new stocks are not being granted entry.
Psychiatric patients cannot access the treatment they need, with the number of people suffering from mental disorders rising.
This human-made medicine crisis is silently claiming even more innocent lives every day, whilst daily bombardments continue to kill Gazans—bringing the death toll to nearly 59,000. This includes more than 800 people who have been killed waiting for food at unsafe distribution sites.
Emergency departments overwhelmed, yet life-saving care impossible
With the majority of hospitals being damaged or destroyed, Al Awda Association is working around the clock to deliver healthcare at its last surviving hospital in Nuseirat.
Due to ongoing shortages at nearby facilities, the hospital has become a primary referral center.
The emergency and surgical departments are under immense pressure, yet staff urgently require medicine and medical consumables —especially for emergency care, surgical procedures and intensive care.
Dr. Mai, the Pharmacy Manager at Al-Awda Hospital, says:
“The situation in the hospital is very bad. We urgently need support to continue serving the people. It is heartbreaking to witness patients suffer while we are unable to provide the necessary care.
"We need medical supplies as soon as possible. We are exploring all possible avenues, including reaching out to local vendors, in an effort to secure what we need."
Melanie Kempster, Director of Health and Nutrition at Relief International says:
“One of few surviving hospitals, Al Awda’s facility in Nuseirat carries out an average of 600 critical operations each month and this will not be possible if supplies, especially anesthesia medications, are not replenished.
“We must not forget this siege and blockade have been ongoing for four months. Today many of the most vulnerable patients—those with serious injuries, life-threatening illnesses and mental health conditions, as well as pregnant women and children—have nowhere to turn for treatment due to the dire lack of supplies."
Humanitarian corridors must be fully opened without delay
During the temporary ceasefire at the beginning of this year, Relief International was able to deliver medical supplies, as well as hospital beds, blankets, and other vital items.
However since the ceasefire collapsed in March and the blockade started, ongoing efforts of humanitarian organizations to release shipments of critical supplies at the border have been consistently denied.
Commenting on the blocking of essential supplies, Melanie says:
“Safe humanitarian corridors—which enable aid to be distributed under the humanitarian principles of humanity, impartiality, neutrality and independence—must be opened without delay, and the provision of healthcare protected under International Humanitarian Law.”
Relief International reaffirms call for ceasefire and continues support
Relief International once again affirms our call for an immediate and lasting ceasefire. We remain steadfastly committed to the people of Gaza; to supporting secondary healthcare and providing life-saving treatment.
Relief International is able to support secondary healthcare services in Gaza thanks to the European Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations (ECHO).