GINEBRA/Xinhua
The director general of the World Health Organization (WHO), Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, warned this Wednesday that suspending funding for the United Nations Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Middle East (UNRWA) could have “catastrophic consequences” for the population of Gaza.
“No other entity has the capacity to provide the magnitude of aid that 2.2 million people in Gaza urgently need,” the WHO chief said.
“The decision by several countries to pause funding for UNRWA, the largest provider of humanitarian assistance in this crisis, will have catastrophic consequences for the people of Gaza,” he added.
On the situation in Gaza, the WHO chief said his organization faces significant challenges in supporting health systems and workers there and that more than 100,000 people have restricted access to medical care because of the fighting. .
Most of Gaza’s hospitals have already stopped functioning due to intense shelling and shortages of fuel and supplies. The Nasser Hospital in central Gaza is operating at a minimal level, the UN reported.
The risk of famine is increasing due to persistent hostilities and limited humanitarian access. The WHO calls for reconsidering the suspension of funding and emphasizes the urgent need for assistance, safe access to humanitarian aid, the release of hostages, the protection of medical facilities and a ceasefire.
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