WHO cancels Gaza medical supplies delivery amidst rising security concerns

The World Health Organization (WHO) has had to cancel a mission to deliver medical supplies to northern Gaza citing security reasons. The aid organisation on Monday informed that it has failed to send essential medical supplies to Al-Awda Hospital and the central drug store in the northern Gaza region owing to a lack of security assurances.

Taking to the social media platform "X" the WHO in Occupied Palestinian territory stated that "heavy bombardment, movement restrictions, and interrupted communications" have made it nearly impossible for them to send medical supplies.

"Today, @WHO cancelled a planned mission to Al-Awda hospital and the central drug store in northern #Gaza for the fourth time since 26 Dec because we did not receive deconfliction and safety guarantees. The mission planned to move urgently needed medical supplies to sustain the operations of five hospitals in the north, including Al-Awda. It has now been 12 days since we were last able to reach northern Gaza. Heavy bombardment, movement restrictions, and interrupted communications are making it nearly impossible to deliver medical supplies regularly and safely across Gaza, particularly in the north. Most hospitals are severely short-staffed, as health workers have left due to evacuation orders or insecurity. Meanwhile, patients' access to health facilities is impeded by perilous conditions. Without adequate health care, the suffering in Gaza is growing each hour," posted the WHO in Occupied Palestinian territory on "X".

Reacting to the debilitating healthcare infrastructure in Gaza amidst WHO's failure to deliver medical supplies, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, the director general of the international organisation urged for an immediate ceasefire. "Shocked by the scale of health needs and devastation in Northern Gaza. Urgent, safe and unhindered access to the region is needed to deliver humanitarian aid. Further delays will lead to more death and suffering for far too many people," he posted.

This comes at a tumultuous juncture when Israel has targeted Hamas and Hezbollah facilities in Khan Yunis and Lebanon in overnight strikes. Meanwhile, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken has engaged in diplomatic efforts, holding discussions with Arab leaders, including Abu Dhabi’s Sheikh Mohammed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan and later with Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.

Since the onset of the conflict between Israel and Hamas, 22,800 Palestinians have lost their lives and over 58,000 individuals have been injured.​​