UNOG NEWS Gaza health update WHO 09JUL2024
/
2:03
/
MP4
/
150.5 MB
Teleprompter
Download

Edited News | WHO

Gaza health update: WHO

Gazans reeling from intensified malnutrition, heat risks

In Gaza, soaring temperatures, hunger and unsanitary conditions present an ever more deadly threat to a population under constant attack, UN humanitarians warned on Tuesday.

Briefing journalists in Geneva, UN World Health Organization (WHO) spokesperson Tarik Jašarević said that according to the enclave’s health authorities, 34 people have died of malnutrition and dehydration, and “in [northern Gaza’s] Kamal Adwan hospital alone, 60 cases of severe acute malnutrition were detected last week”.

“Malnutrition is definitely one of the factors that reduces the immunity, especially of the vulnerable population, elderly and children, who then can’t really cope with any disease, any pathogen that they can get,” he warned, describing a “vicious circle of not having access to enough food, to clean water, to clean sanitation, not having access to basic health services”.

Beyond the direct consequences of the Israeli military’s relentless bombardment and shelling which continued overnight into Tuesday, “everyone in Gaza” is at risk of getting sick and dying for lack of care, Mr. Jašarević said. The situation is particularly dire for pregnant women, people living with chronic diseases such as cancer or diabetes, injured people who are not treated on time and children threatened by waterborne diseases.

The WHO spokesperson reiterated the agency’s appeal for the opening of all border crossings into the enclave, in order to enable desperately needed medical evacuations. “More than 10,000 people need to receive specialized medical care outside of Gaza. These people cannot wait,” he insisted.

The flow of medical relief is also at a standstill and the UN health agency said that none of its trucks passed last week into Gaza.

Asked about the current state of health facilities in the Strip, Mr. Jašarević said that hospitals were being either evacuated or destroyed by bombing, with no possibility of rebuilding as hostilities continue. According to an update from the UN’s humanitarian affairs coordination office OCHA on Monday, patients and medical staff evacuated three hospitals in southern Gaza in just one week, “in fear of intensified military activities that could render the health facilities non-functional or inaccessible”.

Mr. Jašarević paid tribute to the dedication of health workers who afterwards return to the facilities once they feel secure enough, to try and get vital services running again. Out of Gaza’s 36 hospitals, 13 are “partially functioning”, he said.

The UN health agency reported that the total capacity at the six partially functional hospitals in southern Gaza, including three in Deir al Balah and three in Khan Younis, now stands at only 1,334 beds. Out of 11 field hospitals in the Gaza Strip, three had to temporarily shut down and four are only partially functioning, “due to the hostilities in Rafah and reduced access”, WHO said.

Regarding the hospital infrastructure, “the level of destruction is such that it is difficult to even imagine how much time will it take [to rebuild] once the war is over,” Mr. Jašarević stressed.

- - Ends -

STORY: Gaza health update - WHO

TRT: 2:03”

SOURCE: UNTV CH

RESTRICTIONS: NONE

LANGUAGE: ENGLISH / FRENCH / NATS

ASPECT RATIO: 16:9

DATELINE: 09 JULY 2024 GENEVA, SWITZERLAND

1. Exterior wide shot: Palais des Nations, Flag Alley.

2. Wide shot: Speakers at the podium of the press conference; journalists in the Press room.

3. SOUNDBITE (English) – Tarik Jašarević, spokesperson, UN World Health Organization (WHO):According to the Ministry of Health, 34 people have died of malnutrition and dehydration so far. In Kamal Adwan hospital alone, 60 cases of severe acute malnutrition were detected last week.”

4. Wide lateral shot: Journalists and speaker on screens in the Press room.

5. SOUNDBITE (English) – Tarik Jašarević, spokesperson, UN World Health Organization (WHO):Malnutrition is definitely one of the factors that reduces the immunity, especially of the vulnerable population, elderly and children, who then can’t really cope with any disease, any pathogen that they can get. So it’s really, it’s a vicious circle of not having access to enough food, to clean water, to clean sanitation, not having access to basic health services.”

6. Wide lateral shot: Journalists in the Press room; speaker on screen.

7. SOUNDBITE (English) – Tarik Jašarević, spokesperson, UN World Health Organization (WHO):We keep appealing for opening of all crossings into Gaza. More than 10,000 people need to receive specialized medical care outside of Gaza. These people cannot wait.”

8. Medium shot: Wide lateral shot: speaker at podium from rear; speaker on screens; journalists in the Press room.

9. SOUNDBITE (French) – Tarik Jašarević, spokesperson, UN World Health Organization (WHO): “Ce qu’ils font, les travailleurs de santé, les médecins à Gaza, c’est de revenir quand ils se sentent en sécurité, ils reviennent sur les lieux et ils essaient de redémarrer certains services. Donc maintenant, de 36 hôpitaux à Gaza il n’y a que 13 qui fonctionnent de manière partielle.”

10. Wide shot: Journalists in the Press room; speaker on screens.

11. SOUNDBITE (French) – Tarik Jašarević, spokesperson, UN World Health Organization (WHO): “Pour ce qui est de l’infrastructure, ça c’est vraiment très difficile, parce que le niveau de destruction est tel qu’il est difficile même d’imaginer combien de temps cela va prendre une fois la guerre [est] finie.”

12. Close shots: Journalists in the Press room.

13. Wide shot: Cameraperson and technicians' booths in the Press room.


Documents 1
Download Storyline
Download

Audio Files 2
Download Gaza health update: WHO (Edited Story)
Download
Download UNOG NEWS Gaza health update WHO 09JUL2024
Download

Similar Stories

Sudan crisis - UNHCR

1

1

1

Edited News | UNHCR

Sudan crisis - UNHCR ENG FRA

Sudan’s displaced have endured “unimaginable suffering” in their search for shelter from the country’s ongoing war, UN humanitarians warned on Friday.

Gaza health update - WHO

1

1

1

Edited News | WHO

Gaza health update - WHO ENG FRA

‘Exceptional achievement’: Humanitarians reach over 105,000 with polio vaccine in north Gaza

Despite ongoing attacks and access challenges, humanitarians have managed to inoculate over 105,000 children in north Gaza with the second and final dose of the oral polio vaccine, the UN World Health Organization (WHO) said on Tuesday.  

Gaza humanitarian update - UNRWA

1

1

1

Edited News | UNRWA

Gaza humanitarian update - UNRWA ENG FRA

UN aid teams prepared to enter northern Gaza at the weekend to resume a mass polio vaccination campaign, the UN agency for Palestine refugees, UNRWA, said on Friday.

Lebanon update OCHA - WHO

1

1

1

Edited News | OCHA , WHO

Lebanon update OCHA - WHO ENG FRA

Lebanon: widescale displacement continues amid ongoing bombing

In south and east Lebanon civilians continue to face airstrikes, mass forced displacement and deprivation as the fight between Israel and Hezbollah militia goes on against the backdrop of war in Gaza.

In recent days, an estimated 50,000 people have left Baalbek heading mostly to areas in the north of the Bekaa Valley, said Jens Laerke, spokesperson for the UN aid coordination office (OCHA). 

Escalating violence in Sudan’s Al-Jazirah State - OHCHR

1

1

1

Edited News | OHCHR

Escalating violence in Sudan’s Al-Jazirah State - OHCHR ENG FRA

Escalating violence in Sudan’s Al-Jazirah State adds to the dire displacement crisis in the country

UNCTAD Press conference 29 October 2024

2

1

2

Press Conferences , Edited News | UNCTAD

UNCTAD Press conference 29 October 2024 ENG FRA

Publication of the Trade and Development Report 2024: Rethinking Development in the Age of Discontent 

Knesset UNRWA vote – UN reaction IOM – OCHA – UNICEF – WHO – OHCHR

1

1

1

Edited News | IOM , OCHA , UNICEF , WHO , OHCHR

Knesset UNRWA vote – UN reaction IOM – OCHA – UNICEF – WHO – OHCHR ENG FRA

‘If UNRWA can’t operate, humanitarian system in Gaza will collapse’ – UN

The UN humanitarian and human rights community reacted forcefully on Tuesday to the vote by the Israeli Knesset banning the UN Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA), warning of the devastating impact on millions of Palestinians who depend on it.

WMO Press conference 28 October 2024

2

1

2

Press Conferences , Edited News | WMO

WMO Press conference 28 October 2024 ENG FRA

New data released by the UN on Monday indicating that greenhouse gases have hit a record high shows once again that urgent action and not words is needed from the world’s major polluters to protect us all from climate change, the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) insisted.

Middle East update WHO – UNICEF – UNHCR  25 October 2024

1

1

1

Edited News | WHO , UNICEF , UNHCR

Middle East update WHO – UNICEF – UNHCR 25 October 2024 ENG FRA

Gaza’s sick and injured face new attacks on health care, lethal evacuation delays – UN humanitarians

Amid reports of a new Israeli military raid on a Gaza hospital on Friday morning - and ongoing hostilities hindering polio vaccination in the north of the Strip - UN humanitarians pleaded again for the protection of health facilities and urgent medical evacuation of critically ill patients.

Ukraine's demographic crisis UNFPA - 22 October 2024

1

1

1

Edited News | UNFPA

Ukraine's demographic crisis UNFPA - 22 October 2024 ENG FRA

Ukraine's birthrate plummets amid war, prompting a new demographic strategy.

Middle East update UNIFIL - OCHA - UNICEF - 18 October 2024

1

1

1

Edited News | OCHA , UNICEF , UNIFIL

Middle East update UNIFIL - OCHA - UNICEF - 18 October 2024 ENG FRA

UN peacekeepers determined to stay in south Lebanon, while humanitarians report more civilian suffering in Gaza and West Bank

UN peacekeepers are keeping their positions in South Lebanon despite heavy shelling and targeted attacks; their commitment to bringing back stability to the region is unwavering, the UN said on Friday.

Tunisia human rights situation

1

1

1

Edited News | OHCHR

Tunisia human rights situation ENG FRA

Volker Türk calls on Tunisia to uphold rule of law and democratic freedoms, following pre-electoral context marred by human rights concerns

UN Human Rights Chief Volker Türk today called on the Tunisian authorities to protect the country’s democratic processes and uphold fundamental freedoms after a presidential campaign marred by a crackdown on the opposition, independent activists and journalists.