Defending the right to health in Gaza: a call to action by health workers
Fatima Mohammed, Umniha Siddig Ahmed Elgailani, Sondos Yassir Ibrahim Ali, Razan Faisal Abdullah Mohamed, Elaine Tan Su Yin, Martha L Bravo-Vasquez
Abstract
The ongoing conflict in Gaza has led to severe destruction of the health system and eventually its collapse. Moreover, multiple attacks on health workers were reported which led to obstacles in service delivery. The conflict has led to further humanitarian crises including shortage of food, water sanitation, and hygiene, and outbreaks of infectious diseases. About 2 million of Gaza's population are internally displaced with the majority in Rafah. Rafah's population has increased by 500% in less than four months. This has led to acute food severity in Gaza for the whole of the population. Moreover, the cut of UNRWA aid is expected to further expand the humanitarian crisis as over 2 million of the population depends on the aid.