‘Please stop this.’ Gaza’s hospitals are failing under the weight of war. US medical groups are scrambling to help
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The ongoing conflict in Gaza has caused great suffering to the residents and medical professionals of the region. According to the World Health Organization, more than 90 percent of Gaza’s medical facilities lack essential medical services, and more than 1,000 Gazans have been forced to seek treatment in hospitals in the West Bank and Israel since the beginning of this conflict.
US-based medical organizations such as Physicians for Human Rights and the American Medical Association have been working with local partners on the ground to respond to the urgent needs of wounded and civilian casualties. Through advocacy and humanitarian aid, these organizations have provided lifesaving medical supplies and helped to secure essential equipment for Palestinian health service providers.
The international community must act quickly and forcefully to end the violence in Gaza and ensure that the medical personnel, facilities and supplies are able to provide safe, quality health care. The US and other members of the Security Council must come together to broker a just and sustainable peace agreement that safeguards the lives of the people living in Gaza. In the meantime, medical organizations are working to make sure that Gaza’s health crisis is eased as soon as possible.