The World Health Organization delivered its first medical shipment to Gaza since March 2, its director-general, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, announced Thursday. However, he added that the nine trucks represent "a drop in the ocean," according to Agence France-Presse.
Tedros said in a post on the X platform that the supplies will be distributed to priority hospitals within days.
Israel imposed a comprehensive blockade on the Gaza Strip on March 2. After more than two months, it began allowing some food supplies into the Strip, but has not yet allowed any other aid into the Strip.
Tedros explained that "nine trucks loaded with essential medical supplies, including 2,000 units of blood and 1,500 units of plasma," crossed into the Palestinian enclave through the Kerem Shalom crossing "without any looting, despite the dangerous conditions along the way." He added that "these supplies will be distributed to priority hospitals in the coming days."
The UN official noted that "blood and plasma were delivered to the cold storage facility at Nasser Medical Complex for distribution to hospitals facing severe shortages amid a growing influx of casualties, many of which are linked to incidents at food distribution sites."
Last week, the World Health Organization said that 17 of Gaza's 36 hospitals were operating at a minimal or only partially, while the rest were unable to function at all.
More on the way
Tedros noted that four WHO trucks remain at the Kerem Shalom crossing, with more on their way to Gaza.
"These medical supplies are just a drop in the ocean. Large-scale aid is essential to save lives," he added.
He continued: "The World Health Organization calls for the immediate, unhindered, and sustainable delivery of health aid to Gaza through all possible means."
Israel began gradually allowing supplies into Gaza at the end of May, after a comprehensive blockade that lasted more than two months, but distribution has been marred by chaotic scenes and near-daily reports of Israeli forces shooting at Palestinians waiting for food rations.
The Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, supported by the United States and Israel, has been distributing food in Gaza since May 26.
However, the United Nations and major aid organizations refused to cooperate with the organization, whose funding sources were opaque, due to concerns that it was established to serve Israeli military objectives.
Israel is intensifying its bombardment of the Gaza Strip, in a military offensive it says aims to defeat Hamas, whose unprecedented attack on the south of the Jewish state in October 2023 led to the outbreak of war.
שתף את דעתך
WHO delivers its first medical shipment to Gaza since early March