Gaza protection of humanitarian space WHO 12 December 2023
/
3:14
/
MP4
/
238.3 MB

Edited News | WHO

Gaza protection of humanitarian space - WHO 12 December 2023

Gaza hospitals in a state of “utter chaos and a humanitarian disaster zone” - WHO

The UN World Health Organization (WHO) reiterated its calls on Tuesday for the protection of health care and humanitarian assistance in Gaza, following military checkpoint delays and detention of health partners during a mission to transfer critically ill patients from the north to the south and to deliver health supplies.

Briefing reporters from Gaza, Dr. Richard Peeperkorn, WHO’s representative in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, said that “the space for humanitarian actors to provide aid within Gaza is incredibly complex and it seems to be shrinking. It is very difficult for us to safely and swiftly move supplies, patients and staff and the needs are enormous to alleviate this catastrophic humanitarian situation which is only growing.”

The Gaza Strip has been transformed within 66 days of fighting, from a “reasonably functioning health system” producing health indicators “on par with neighbouring countries” to a situation where more than two thirds of its 36 hospitals and over 70 per cent of primary health care facilities are out of commission, according to WHO.

Dr. Peeperkorn told the media that on 9 December during a high-risk mission to evacuate patients from the Al-Ahli Hospital in Gaza City to the Nasser Medical Complex in southern Gaza, “on the way north, the UN convoy was inspected at the Wadi Gaza checkpoint and crew members had to leave the vehicles for identification, exposing them to risk.” He added that “two of the PRCS (Palestine Red Crescent Society) staff were detained for over an hour, and we had to wait there, it further delayed the mission. We witnessed that one of the staff was made to kneel at gun point and taken out of sight. Finally, he returned and we could move on as well.”

WHO’s representative stated that on the way back, with the 19 critical patients from Al-Ahli Hospital on board, the convoy was again stopped at the Wadi Gaza checkpoint. PRCS (Palestine Red Crescent Society) staff and most of the patients had to leave the ambulances for security checks, and "critical patients remaining in the ambulance were all searched by armed soldiers".

The WHO staff described the Al-Ahli Hospital as extremely overcrowded, with many displaced people sheltering there, and over 200 patients, while it only has enough resources to support 40 beds. The building has sustained substantive damage because of the hostilities.

“We saw many trauma patients on donkey carts, on horse carts, etcetera, dead people unfortunately, seriously injured people on foot, personal vehicles everywhere, every room in Al-Ahli, not only every ward but every corridor in the courtyard, outside, in the library, even the chapel, is full with patients,” said Dr. Peeperkorn. “We can only describe it as a kind of utter chaos and a humanitarian disaster zone.”

Faced with large numbers of trauma patients inside the hospital, and outside on the street, “the doctors are really forced to prioritize who receives care, who doesn’t, and they are treating many of the serious cases actually straight away in the corner of the corridors or on the floor or even in the chapel,” said Dr. Peeperkorn. “Unfortunately, there is no vascular surgeon, so that’s why the medical specialists are forced to do something like limb amputations as the last resort to save lives.”

Meanwhile WHO spokesperson Christian Lindmeier told reporters in Geneva that according to the Ministry of Health in Gaza, the Kamal Adwan Hospital – also in the north – “is being forcefully evacuated. There are currently 68 patients inside the hospital, 18 intensive care unit patients and including six neonates.”

Close to 50,000 people have been injured in Gaza since 7 October and some 8,000 of them require “urgent and immediate medical intervention”, WHO said.

WHO said that with its partners it remains firmly committed to staying in Gaza and assisting the population. But as hostilities continue to increase across the Strip and aid falls short of needs, the humanitarian support system is on the verge of collapse.

The UN health agency reiterated that obstruction of ambulances and attacks on humanitarian and health workers are unconscionable, insisting that healthcare is protected under international law and must be respected in all circumstances.

-ends-

STORY: Gaza protection of humanitarian space - WHO

TRT: 3:14”
SOURCE: UNTV CH
LANGUAGE: ENGLISH
ASPECT RATIO: 16:9
DATELINE: 12 December 2023 - GENEVA, SWITZERLAND

SHOTLIST

  1. Exterior wide shot: UN building with UN flag, UN Geneva.
  2. SOUNDBITE (ENGLISH) – Dr. Richard Peeperkorn, WHO Representative in the occupied Palestinian territory (oPt): “The space for humanitarian actors to provide aid within Gaza is incredibly complex and it seems to be shrinking. It is very difficult for us to safely and swiftly move supplies, patients and staff and the needs are enormous to alleviate this catastrophic humanitarian situation which is only growing.”
  3. Cutaway: Medium shot, UN flag in front of UN building
  4. SOUNDBITE (ENGLISH) – Dr. Richard Peeperkorn, WHO Representative in the occupied Palestinian territory (oPt): “On the way north, the UN convoy was inspected at the Wadi Gaza checkpoint and ambulances and crew members had to leave the vehicles for identification, exposing them to risk. Two of the PRCS (Palestine Red Crescent Society) staff were detained for over an hour, and we had to wait there, it further delayed the mission. We witnessed that one of the staff was made to kneel at gunpoint and taken out of sight. Finally, he returned and we could move on as well.”
  5. Cutaway: Medium shot, outside UN entry at Place des Nations
  6. SOUNDBITE (ENGLISH) - Dr. Richard Peeperkorn, WHO Representative in the occupied Palestinian territory (oPt): “On the way south, and this is much more serious, again with the patients from Al- Ahli hospital, the convoy was again stopped at the Wadi Gaza checkpoint. PRCS and most of the patients had to leave the ambulances for security checks, and critical patients remaining in the ambulance were all searched by armed soldiers.”
  7. Cutaway: Wide shot, Ariana Park with sea in background
  8. SOUNDBITE (ENGLISH) – Christian Lindmeier, WHO spokesperson: “The Ministry of Health is reporting just now that the hospital is being forcefully evacuated. There are currently 68 patients inside the hospital, 18 intensive care unit patients and including six neonates.”
  9. Cutaway: Wide shot, UN Geneva outside
  10. SOUNDBITE (ENGLISH) - Dr Richard Peeperkorn, WHO Representative in the occupied Palestinian territory (oPt): “We saw many trauma patients on donkey carts, on horse carts, etcetera, dead people unfortunately, seriously injured people on foot, personal vehicles everywhere, every room in Al-Ahli, not only every ward but every corridor in the courtyard, outside, in the library, even the chapel, is full with patients. We can only describe it as a kind of utter chaos and a humanitarian disaster zone.”
  11. Cutaway: Wide shot, Ariana Park within the premises of the UN Geneva
  12. SOUNDBITE (ENGLISH) - Dr Richard Peeperkorn, WHO Representative on the occupied Palestinian territory (oPt): “The doctors are really forced to prioritize who receives care, who doesn’t, and they are treating many of the serious cases actually straight away in the corner of the corridors or on the floor or even in the chapel. As I said, severely short staffed. Unfortunately, there is no vascular surgeon, so that’s why the medical specialists are forced to do something like limb amputations as the last resort to save lives.”
  13. Cutaway: wide shot, UN Geneva


Audio Files 1
Download Gaza protection of humanitarian space WHO 12 December 2023 (Edited Story)
Download

Similar Stories

Widespread starvation in Gaza – IPC, UN Women 29 July 2025

1

1

1

Edited News | UNWOMEN

Widespread starvation in Gaza – IPC, UN Women 29 July 2025 ENG FRA

Aid agencies echoed wider warnings of growing signs of widespread starvation in Gaza on Tuesday, as UN-partnered international food security experts released their most dire assessment yet of the situation in the wartorn enclave.

Sudan displaced return – IOM, UNDP, UNHCR 25 July 2025

1

1

1

Edited News | IOM , UNDP , UNHCR

Sudan displaced return – IOM, UNDP, UNHCR 25 July 2025 ENG FRA

Sudan: urgent help needed as more than 1.3 million war-displaced people begin to return home

As conflict rages on across parts of Sudan, pockets of relative safety have emerged in the past four month, spurring more than one million internally displaced Sudanese to make their way home, says the International Organization for Migration (IOM). A further 320,000 cross-border refugees have come back to Sudan since last year, mainly from Egypt and South Sudan, to assess the current situation before deciding to return to their country for good.

Gaza crisis update UNRWA – WHO 22 July 2025

1

1

1

Edited News | UNRWA , WHO

Gaza crisis update UNRWA – WHO 22 July 2025 ENG FRA

Gaza: SOS messages describe people fainting from hunger; UN health worker detained

Worrying alerts from United Nations staff in Gaza who have been fainting from hunger and exhaustion over the past 48 hours have increased fears for people’s survival in the devastated enclave, UN humanitarians said on Tuesday.

Funding cuts impact on aid access - UNHCR Dominique Hyde - 18 July 2025

1

1

1

Edited News | UNHCR , UNOG

Funding cuts impact on aid access - UNHCR Dominique Hyde - 18 July 2025 ENG FRA

Over 11.6 million refugees risk losing aid access due to funding cuts, says UNHCR

Approximately one in three refugees and other vulnerable individuals normally supported by the UN refugee agency (UNHCR) are expected to lose out from funding cuts, it said on Friday.

UN Human Rights Ravina Shamdasani on opening mission in Bangladesh

1

1

1

Edited News | OHCHR

UN Human Rights Ravina Shamdasani on opening mission in Bangladesh ENG FRA

Ravina Shamdasani, Spokesperson for the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, made the following announcement on the Office’s opening of a new mission in Bangladesh.

UN Human Rights spokesperson Ravina Shamdasani on returns of Afghans

1

1

1

Edited News | OHCHR

UN Human Rights spokesperson Ravina Shamdasani on returns of Afghans ENG FRA

The surge in the number of Afghans forced or compelled to return to Afghanistan this year is creating a multi-layered human rights crisis requiring the urgent attention of the international community,” UN Human Rights spokesperson Ravina Shamdasani said on Friday.  

UN Human Rights Office Spokesperson Ravina Shamdasani on violence in Suweida, Syria

1

1

1

Edited News | OHCHR , UNOG

UN Human Rights Office Spokesperson Ravina Shamdasani on violence in Suweida, Syria ENG FRA

UN Human Rights Chief Volker Türk on Friday called for accountability and justice for the killings and other gross human rights violations and abuses in the southern city of Suweida. 

Syria Sweida violence OHCHR – UNHCR 18 July 2025

1

1

1

Edited News | OHCHR , UNHCR

Syria Sweida violence OHCHR – UNHCR 18 July 2025 ENG FRA

Syria: hundreds killed in Sweida, ‘widespread’ violations as civilians flee for their lives

Amid violent clashes in southern Syria’s Sweida governorate, a picture of grave human rights abuses and rising humanitarian needs is emerging by the hour, the UN said on Friday.

UN Human Rights Spokesperson Liz Throssell on Ukraine

1

1

Edited News | OHCHR , UNOG

UN Human Rights Spokesperson Liz Throssell on Ukraine ENG

At the bi-weekly press briefing in Geneva the UN Human Rights Spokesperson Liz Throssell made the following statement on the latest number of civilian casualties in Ukraine.

UN Human Rights Briefing on West Bank

1

1

1

Edited News | OHCHR , UNOG

UN Human Rights Briefing on West Bank ENG FRA

The UN Human Rights Office on Tuesday called for investigations into hundreds of killings of Palestinians in the occupied West Bank by Israeli security forces and settlers, warning against ongoing forced mass displacement of the Palestinian population.

Gaza And Occupied West Bank Update - OHCHR, UNRWA  15 July 2025

1

1

2

Edited News | OHCHR , UNRWA

Gaza And Occupied West Bank Update - OHCHR, UNRWA 15 July 2025 ENG FRA

Nearly 900 people have been killed in Gaza in recent weeks trying to fetch food, with most deaths linked to private aid hubs run by the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF), the UN human rights office, OHCHR, said on Tuesday.

UN Human Rights Spokesperson Ravina Shamdasani on escalating gang violence  in Haiti

1

1

1

Edited News | OHCHR , UNOG

UN Human Rights Spokesperson Ravina Shamdasani on escalating gang violence in Haiti ENG FRA

The United Nations Integrated Office in Haiti (BINUH) and the UN Human Rights Office have today released a report detailing the evolution of violent gang incidents beyond the capital Port-au-Prince since October 2024 up to June 2025, and the resulting loss of life and mass displacement.