United Nations: Gaza’s healthcare infrastructure has been completely destroyed

A sh a

Thursday, December 7, 2023 07:27 PM

The United Nations Special Rapporteur on the right to health, Tlaleng Mofokeng, said on Thursday that the health care infrastructure in the Gaza Strip was completely destroyed, and many health care workers were killed while treating their patients..

She added – in a press statement – that the Israeli occupation declared a “relentless war” on the health system in Gaza, after bombing and destroying hospitals, including a hospital designated for treating children, as the health care infrastructure in the Gaza Strip was completely destroyed..

She continued: “The practice of medicine in the Gaza Strip is under attack, and as a practicing physician, I cannot understand what my colleagues in Gaza are suffering. They are working while their colleagues and loved ones are under attack.”“.

She added: “At least five newborns died in Al-Shifa Hospital before the evacuation could take place, and there is also an increase in infectious diseases, respiratory diseases, and diarrhea, and an increased risk of pneumonia in children, which will worsen as this war continues into the winter.”“.

“We are at the darkest time in our lives regarding the right to health,” Mofokeng said“.

She stressed: “Countless violations of the special protection granted to civilians, children and medical personnel under international humanitarian law,” in addition to widespread violations of international human rights law..

She added: “We have descended upon cliffs from which we must emerge quickly. For people to have access to quality health care, they must have access to health care workers, and these health care workers must be safe and free to provide care.”“.

She added: “As a child survivor of apartheid, I understand very well the trauma that children and Gazans will carry with them, not only from the current violence, but also from the displacement and military occupation that they and generations of their families are suffering from.”“.

She concluded her statement by saying: “We are witnessing a shameful war on health care workers. Stop the war on Gaza, and end it now.”“.