Emergency department at Al-Shifa hospital in Gaza “Bloodbath” WHO confirms

World Health Organization (WHO) asserted Sunday that the Emergency Department at the Al-Shifa hospital in northern Gaza has been morphed into bloodbath and needs rehabilitation after it was exposed to severe damage due to the Israeli airstrikes.
The occupation has been persisting with its airstrikes, ground offensive and attacks from sea on Gaza Strip for 72 days resulting in the martyrdom of roughly 19,000 Palestinians with the injury of 52,000 Palestinians, 70 percent of them were women and children in unlimited toll.
In addition, WHO reported that its team, alongside a team from other UN agencies on Saturday succeeded in delivering medical items to Al-Shifa hospital located in west of Gaza city, which is one of the largest hospitals in the strip, pointing out that tens of thousands of displaced people took shelter at this medical complex that lacks water and food.
The team described the hospital as bloodbath with hundreds of sick people taking shelter at the complex, WHO pointed out emphasizing that every single minute new sick people arrive at the hospital suffering from panic and receive treatment on the ground, while the number of painkillers is limited or even unavailable.
The complex operates with its minimum capacity with a very limited number of medical team, while sick people with critical conditions were transferred to Al Ahli Baptist Hospital to undergo surgical procedure, WHO reported.
The WHO statement quoted the remarks of the team that visited Al-Shifa hospital as saying that the facility needs rehabilitation, emphasizing that only 30 sick people with kidney diseases can undergo dialysis.
The entire health infrastructure was exposed to severe damage due to the bombardment, along with ground onslaught the occupation has been carrying out since last October, with WHO affirming that it is ready to upgrade Al-Shifa complex in the upcoming weeks to resume its critical services.
Nearly 20 operation rooms at the hospital can become operational with postoperative care services if supplied with fuel, oxygen, medicines, food, and water, WHO outlined, pointing out that there is a need for ample staff.
Currently, Al Ahli Baptist Hospital is the only facility that partially operates in the entire areas of north Gaza, with three hospitals have a limited operation, namely Al-Shifa, Al-Awda and Al-Sahaba hospitals. Before the war, 24 hospitals were operating in this area. (QNA)