GENEVA, Jan 18 (Bernama-WAFA) -- Growing concern is being expressed by Palestinians and staff of Doctors Without Borders (MSF) in the Gaza Strip over the possible suspension of its medical services due to Israeli measures threatening its continued presence, at a time when Gaza’s health system is suffering from near-total paralysis and severe shortages, the Palestine News and Information Agency (WAFA) reported.
Thousands of patients and wounded people currently receive specialised medical care from MSF teams, which operate mainly out of the Nasser Medical Complex in Khan Yunis, southern Gaza.
Patients and medical workers alike fear there would be no alternatives should the organisation be forced to halt its operations.
In a statement issued on Sunday, MSF said Israel had suspended the organisation’s registration under newly imposed rules governing work in Gaza and the West Bank, without specifying a timeframe.
The organisation said Israeli authorities had claimed that MSF’s departure from Gaza would have limited impact, a claim it strongly rejected as “completely untrue”.
Mohammed Abu Jasser, supervisor of the MSF burn unit, said the teams were treating patients suffering from fractures, multiple injuries and severe burns.
He warned that preventing MSF from operating in Gaza would have serious negative consequences, particularly with regard to the entry of medical supplies and specialised medical delegations.
MSF has also warned that Gaza’s health system is on the brink of collapse as a result of the war, while the need for essential medical services continues to rise sharply.
The health sector in Gaza remains largely incapacitated due to acute shortages of fuel, medical equipment and medicines, compounded by Israel’s restrictions on the entry of medical aid.
-- BERNAMA-WAFA
