In the heart of war-torn Gaza, the Strip’s largest hospital is reaching a breaking point as waves of malnourished and severely ill children flood its emergency rooms, painting a grim picture of the humanitarian crisis unfolding in the region.
At Al-Shifa Hospital in Gaza City, doctors are working around the clock under dire conditions, treating children suffering from acute malnutrition, dehydration, and complications related to prolonged food shortages. Medical staff, already strained by months of conflict, now face an escalating emergency as the health system teeters on the edge of collapse.
According to hospital officials, many of the children arriving at the facility are too weak to cry, their small bodies ravaged by hunger. Parents, desperate for help, are often forced to wait hours for care due to overcrowding and limited medical supplies.
Dr. Hanan Abu Yousuf, a pediatrician at Al-Shifa, described the situation as “beyond catastrophic,” adding that the hospital has neither the resources nor personnel to handle the growing influx of critically ill children. “We are seeing conditions that we only read about in history books—children with swollen bellies, sunken eyes, and signs of severe nutrient deficiencies,” she said.
The ongoing blockade, restricted aid access, and continuous airstrikes have devastated Gaza’s infrastructure, leaving hospitals without consistent electricity, clean water, or essential medications. Humanitarian organizations warn that if immediate international action is not taken, the death toll among children could rise dramatically.
The United Nations and several aid groups have called for unimpeded humanitarian access into Gaza, emphasizing the urgent need for food, medical supplies, and fuel to reach hospitals and refugee shelters. Despite repeated appeals, many convoys remain stuck at border crossings or are unable to reach northern Gaza due to security concerns.
This crisis comes amid an already fragile ceasefire, with sporadic violence further complicating aid efforts. The World Health Organization (WHO) has labeled the health emergency in Gaza as one of the worst in recent decades, highlighting the especially severe impact on children and infants.
Al-Shifa Hospital, once a symbol of resilience, is now overwhelmed—its hallways crowded with patients and its wards overrun. Doctors warn that without immediate intervention, the consequences for Gaza’s youngest and most vulnerable population could be irreversible.
Source : Swifteradio.com
