SHAH ALAM - Doctors Without Borders (Médecins Sans Frontières, MSF) has released a harrowing report detailing the devastation in Gaza over the past 14 months.
The report, titled ‘Gaza: Life in a Death Trap,’ highlighted the ongoing destruction caused by Israeli military actions, blockades and restrictions on humanitarian aid, which have decimated living conditions in the territory.
MSF has called for a ceasefire and immediate humanitarian intervention to prevent further suffering and loss of life.
MSF's Secretary General Christopher Lockyear described the dire situation in Gaza, where people have endured apocalyptic conditions with no safe haven, no respite, and no escape from the ongoing devastation. Having visited Gaza earlier this year, he characterised the crisis as a "brutal war" marked by widespread destruction and evidence of ethnic cleansing.
"Our medical teams on the ground have observed firsthand the harrowing realities of this conflict, aligning with the assessments of numerous legal experts and organisations that describe the situation in Gaza as genocide.
"While we lack the legal mandate to determine intent, the evidence of ethnic cleansing is overwhelming.
"Mass killings, widespread physical and psychological trauma, forced displacement and the unlivable conditions imposed on Palestinians under relentless siege and bombardment,” he said.
According to the Palestinian Health Ministry, more than 45,000 Palestinians have been killed since October 2023, including eight MSF staff members.
Many deaths have resulted from a collapsed healthcare system, disease outbreaks, and a lack of essential supplies.
The United Nations (UN) estimated that over 10,000 bodies remain buried under rubble.
Meanwhile, Gaza's healthcare system is in shambles, with fewer than half of its 36 hospitals even partially operational.
"Over the past year, MSF staff have faced 41 attacks on medical facilities, vehicles, and shelters. Patients and medical personnel have been forced to evacuate on 17 occasions due to hostilities near healthcare centers.
"MSF-supported facilities have provided 27,500 consultations for violence-related injuries and performed 7,500 surgeries.
"Yet the medical needs far exceed available resources. The lack of clean water, food, and hygiene has worsened the spread of diseases like respiratory infections, diarrhea, and malnutrition," the report stated.
Medical evacuations have been nearly impossible. Between May and September, only 229 patients were allowed to leave Gaza, accounting for a mere 1.6 per cent of those in need of evacuation.
Humanitarian aid has also drastically decreased, with an average of just 37 aid trucks entering Gaza daily in October, compared to 500 before October 2023.
The situation in northern Gaza is particularly dire. The recent military offensive has displaced 90 per cent of Gaza’s population, forcing people into overcrowded and unsanitary shelters.
"For more than a year, our medical staff in Gaza have witnessed a relentless campaign by the Israeli forces marked by massive destruction, devastation and dehumanisation.
"Palestinians have been killed in their homes and hospital beds. They have been forcibly displaced to areas that are neither safe nor healthy.
"People cannot find even the most basic necessities like food, clean water, medicines, and soap amid a punishing siege and blockade,” Lockyear added.
MSF reiterated its call for a ceasefire and emphasised the responsibility of Israel and its allies to uphold international law and ensure the delivery of humanitarian aid.
The organisation stressed that countries must use their influence to alleviate the suffering of the population and urged Israel to lift its blockade and open borders for humanitarian assistance.
Even if hostilities ended today, the report warned of long-lasting impacts on Gaza’s population.
Thousands of injured individuals are at risk of infection, amputation, or permanent disability. The psychological scars of violence, displacement, and loss will affect generations to come.
MSF highlighted the need for sustained international efforts to rebuild Gaza’s healthcare system and address the extensive physical and mental trauma endured by its residents.
Without immediate intervention, the destruction of life in Gaza will leave a legacy of suffering that may never be fully undone.