Gaza: Severe shortage in medicines puts patients' lives in jeopardy


https://www.saba.ye/en/news3468885.htm

Yemen News Agency SABA
Gaza: Severe shortage in medicines puts patients' lives in jeopardy
[21/ April/2025]
Gaza - Saba:

The Director General of Pharmacy at the Ministry of Health in Gaza, Munir al-Barash, announced that more than 37% of the essential medicines list and more than 59% of medical supplies in the Strip have run out.

In a press statement, al-Barash warned of the loss of a large number of patients due to the severe shortage of medicines and medical supplies.

He emphasized the seriousness of the deteriorating health situation, calling on humanitarian organizations to urgently intervene to save the lives of patients in light of the severe shortage facing the health sector.

For its part, the Ministry of Health in Gaza previously reported that hundreds of patients and wounded are suffering from a severe shortage of medicines, with their crisis exacerbated by the continued closure of the crossings.

In a statement posted on its Facebook page, the ministry confirmed that health services are being provided in hospitals based on extremely limited stocks of medicines and medical supplies, noting that this shortage crisis is hindering the work of medical staff in providing emergency interventions to the wounded.

The Ministry noted that cancer, kidney failure, and heart disease patients are most affected by this shortage, explaining that other essential medicine items are also at risk of running out soon, leading to increased shortages.

It called on international organizations to pressure Israel to allow the entry of life-saving medical supplies.

Separately, UNRWA spokesperson Adnan Abu Hasna revealed that 90% of Gaza's children suffer from varying degrees of malnutrition, in addition to severe deprivation of clean water, which has weakened their immune systems. He emphasized that they are the group most affected by the ongoing war.

Abu Hasna stressed that the humanitarian situation in Gaza has deteriorated dramatically since the Israeli closure of the crossings on March 2, causing fuel, water, food, and medicine to run out.

He pointed out that the Strip is facing an unprecedented blockade that prevents the entry of relief and humanitarian supplies. He warned of the danger of the collapse of the health system and the spread of disease among Gaza's population, especially since children represent 51% of the Strip's population, making them the most vulnerable to disease.

He stressed the need to open the crossings as soon as possible, warning that their continued closure in the coming days would lead to the emergence of real signs of famine in various areas of Gaza.