Over the weekend, attempts to reach two hospitals in northern Gaza faced significant challenges, as reported by Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-General of the World Health Organization. Dr. Tedros highlighted that on 20 April, efforts to access Kamal Adwan and Al-Awda hospitals were only partially successful due to delays at checkpoints and ongoing hostilities.
The delays resulted in critical supplies, including fuel and medical resources, not reaching Kamal Adwan for the second time in the past week. Additionally, partners were unable to assess the needs at Al-Awda to facilitate the restoration of essential services, further endangering the health of patients receiving treatment there.
Despite the challenges, the mission managed to evacuate four severely ill patients from Kamal Adwan, along with their caretakers. One of the patients was at risk of requiring a leg amputation, underscoring the urgency of the situation.
Dr. Tedros reiterated the call for compliance with international humanitarian law, emphasizing the importance of ensuring access to healthcare and humanitarian aid for civilians in dire need of assistance. He once again urged for a ceasefire to alleviate the suffering of the affected population.
