Medical Stocks ‘Critically Low’ in Gaza, Warns WHO

The World Health Organization (WHO) has issued a serious warning that medical supplies in the Gaza Strip are running dangerously low, placing thousands of patients at risk and pushing the region’s healthcare system closer to collapse. The warning comes amid continuing conflict in the Middle East and restrictions that have slowed the entry of humanitarian aid into the territory.

According to WHO officials, hospitals across Gaza are facing severe shortages of essential medicines, trauma kits, surgical equipment, and other life-saving supplies. Basic medical items such as gauze, syringes, and needles have already run out in several healthcare facilities. The organization says the remaining stock of medical equipment and drugs is extremely limited and could be exhausted soon if new aid does not arrive quickly.

The crisis is further complicated by fuel shortages, which are preventing hospitals from running essential medical equipment and backup generators. Without adequate fuel, hospitals struggle to maintain critical services such as emergency surgeries, dialysis treatment, and intensive care units. As a result, doctors and nurses are being forced to make difficult decisions about which patients receive treatment first.

Another major challenge is the limited entry of humanitarian aid into Gaza. Although Israeli authorities recently allowed the reopening of the Kerem Shalom crossing, aid deliveries remain far below what humanitarian organizations say is required. Health agencies estimate that around 600 aid trucks per day are needed to meet the population’s basic needs, but only a fraction of that number has been entering the territory.

The situation is particularly alarming for patients who need urgent medical treatment outside Gaza. The Rafah crossing with Egypt, which is an important route for medical evacuations, remains largely closed. As a result, about 18,000 patients, including many children and people with chronic illnesses, are still waiting for permission to leave the territory for specialized care.

Health officials and humanitarian organizations are urging the international community to ensure a steady flow of medical aid and fuel into Gaza. They warn that without immediate assistance, hospitals may soon be unable to treat the growing number of wounded and sick patients, worsening an already severe humanitarian crisis in the region.