Focus

WHO chief calls for full medical, fuel aid access to Gaza 'now'

02 Nov 2023 09:35am
Ambulances queue at the Egyptian side of the border with the Gaza Strip in Rafah, on November 1, 2023, before entering to transport wounded to Egyptian field hospitals. - Photo by AFP
Ambulances queue at the Egyptian side of the border with the Gaza Strip in Rafah, on November 1, 2023, before entering to transport wounded to Egyptian field hospitals. - Photo by AFP

GENEVA - The World Health Organisation (WHO) chief on Wednesday called for a full medical and fuel aid access to the Gaza Strip.

"No words can describe our concern for the patients who have just lost the only possibility to receive lifesaving cancer treatment or palliative care," Anadolu Agency reported Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said on X.

"I urge and I plead - for full medical and fuel aid access NOW! The more we wait, the more we put these fragile lives at risk," Tedros said.

The Turkish-Palestinian Friendship Hospital, the only public hospital for cancer patients in the Gaza Strip, went out of service due to Israeli attacks and fuel shortage, the Doctors Without Borders (MSF) said on Wednesday.

"As of today, the hospital is out of service, as a result of the shortage of fuel and the several attacks that affected the facility. This is the only public hospital for cancer patients in the Gaza Strip, and now dozens of cancer patients’ lives are at serious risk," the MSF said on X.

It said that Israeli authorities continue to prevent the entry of fuel into Gaza, which is essential for powering hospitals, adding that hospitals and healthcare facilities are also being attacked during this "horrific onslaught."

The Israeli army has expanded its air and ground attacks on the Gaza Strip, killing at least 8,796 Palestinians and injuring more than 22,000 others since Oct 7.

Besides the large number of casualties and displacement, basic supplies are running low for the 2.3 million residents in Gaza due to the Israeli siege. - BERNAMA-ANADOLU AGENCY

Related Articles:

Gaza
who
medical
fuel
Palestine
gaza strip
More Like This
Spain's Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez (R) applauds with Palestinian prime minister Mohammad Mustafa (2R) as Spain's second Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Labor and Social Economy Yolanda Diaz (2L) stands with Palestinian labor minister Enas Attari after signing bilateral accords during a signing ceremony at the Moncloa Palace in Madrid, on November 21, 2024. (Photo by OSCAR DEL POZO / AFP)
Spain's Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez (R) applauds with Palestinian prime minister Mohammad Mustafa (2R) as Spain's second Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Labor and Social Economy Yolanda Diaz (2L) stands with Palestinian labor minister Enas Attari after signing bilateral accords during a signing ceremony at the Moncloa Palace in Madrid, on November 21, 2024. (Photo by OSCAR DEL POZO / AFP)
World Spain holds first talks with Palestinian govt since recognising state
The aim is to "help promote Palestine's statehood at the international level" and encourage other nations to follow the example of Spain, Ireland, Norway and Slovenia.
This handout photograph taken by Press Wing of Bangladesh's Chief Adviser and released on November 21, 2024, shows nobel laureate and chief adviser of Bangladesh's interim government Muhammad Yunus (R) with former premier and Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) chairperson Khaleda Zia (2L) at a reception to mark the country's Armed Forces Day in Dhaka. - Photo by AFP
This handout photograph taken by Press Wing of Bangladesh's Chief Adviser and released on November 21, 2024, shows nobel laureate and chief adviser of Bangladesh's interim government Muhammad Yunus (R) with former premier and Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) chairperson Khaleda Zia (2L) at a reception to mark the country's Armed Forces Day in Dhaka. - Photo by AFP
World Bangladesh ex-PM makes first public appearance in six years
The ferocious rivalry between the two former premiers -- born in blood and cemented in prison -- has defined politics in the Muslim-majority nation for decades.
This image shows an artist’s impression of the star WOH G64, the first star outside our galaxy to be imaged in close-up. - Photo by AFP
This image shows an artist’s impression of the star WOH G64, the first star outside our galaxy to be imaged in close-up. - Photo by AFP
World The first 'zoomed-in' image of a star outside our galaxy
Roughly 160,000 light years from Earth, the star WOH G64 sits in the Large Magellanic Cloud, a satellite galaxy of our home Milky Way.
People play World of Warcraft at an E-Sports centre in Jinzhou, in China’s central Hubei province on August 1, 2024. - AFP
People play World of Warcraft at an E-Sports centre in Jinzhou, in China’s central Hubei province on August 1, 2024. - AFP
World 'World of Warcraft' still going strong as it celebrates 20 years
"WoW" was born the same year as Facebook, and comprised key elements such as online interactions and communities that would help create today's globalised social networks.