Gaza's healthcare system is facing a severe crisis amid ongoing conflict, destruction, and shortages. Hospitals are damaged, supplies are limited, and thousands of patients remain stranded outside Gaza awaiting treatment. Many wonder how the situation has deteriorated and what is being done to help. Below, we answer key questions about the healthcare emergency in Gaza and the international response.
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How bad is the healthcare situation in Gaza right now?
Gaza's healthcare system is collapsing due to ongoing Israeli strikes, destruction of hospitals, and shortages of medicines and surgical supplies. Over 10,600 patients have been evacuated since 2023, but thousands still need urgent medical care outside Gaza. The situation is dire, with many hospitals damaged and limited access to essential medicines.
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How are recent Israeli strikes affecting hospitals?
Recent Israeli strikes have damaged key hospitals, including Gaza's Eye Hospital, and destroyed critical medical infrastructure. This has severely limited Gaza's capacity to treat patients and has worsened the health crisis, leaving many without access to necessary surgical and emergency care.
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What international aid is coming into Gaza?
International aid efforts are ongoing, but entry remains limited. Only a few trucks carrying essential medicines and supplies are allowed into Gaza each week, which is far below the needs of the population. Many countries and organizations are calling for increased aid and easier access to help the healthcare system recover.
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Why is Gaza’s healthcare system collapsing?
Gaza’s healthcare system is collapsing due to a combination of ongoing conflict, repeated destruction of hospitals, shortages of medicines, and a blockade that restricts medical supplies and personnel. The political and logistical barriers to evacuations and aid delivery have further worsened the crisis.
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What is being done to evacuate patients from Gaza?
Efforts to evacuate patients have been slow and challenging due to political and logistical barriers. Over 16,500 patients still need treatment outside Gaza, but delays and restrictions have hampered evacuation efforts, leaving many in critical condition without access to proper care.
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How are civilians in Gaza coping with the healthcare crisis?
Many civilians are suffering from injuries, illnesses, and lack of access to medical care. Stories like that of Maryam, a girl awaiting brain surgery in Jordan, highlight the human toll. Flooding and ongoing conflict have worsened living conditions, making healthcare even harder to access for ordinary people.