The World Health Organization (WHO) representative in Palestine has urged Israeli authorities to facilitate the entry of medical supplies into Gaza. The WHO stated that repeated delays in delivering life-saving medicines, prosthetics, and other essential supplies risk having severe consequences for Palestinians in need.
Aid can currently enter Gaza only through the Kerem Shalom crossing, while the Rafah crossing is limited to the movement of people, including patients seeking medical treatment abroad. Reinhilde Van De Weerdt, the WHO’s representative in Palestine, emphasized that the timely arrival of appropriate medical supplies is critical, stating, "A truck full of non-priority supplies or the right supplies arriving too late doesn’t save lives. That’s the question that actually matters."
Van De Weerdt called on Israeli authorities to ease restrictions on medical supplies, asserting that essential medicines should not be classified as dual-use items. She noted that one shipment of prosthetics and assistive devices had been rejected multiple times over the past six months, which delays care for individuals who have lost limbs.
She reported that while medicines are generally moving well, with nearly 87 percent approved and just over 1 percent rejected, the need for a consistent and predictable entry of humanitarian supplies remains urgent. Van De Weerdt advocated for a multi-crossing model to ensure that aid can flow more freely into Gaza.
Currently, four other main entry points into Gaza—Kissufim, Gate 96, Erez, and Erez West—are closed and under Israeli control. Van De Weerdt commended the health workers in Gaza who are risking their lives to provide care but noted that they are not receiving sufficient supplies.
As winter approaches, the urgency for supplies increases, with nearly two million people in need of shelter against cold and flooding risks. She highlighted the potential for preventable disease outbreaks due to inadequate shelter and clean water, compounded by the presence of rats that can transmit infections.
The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) warned of serious public health risks in Gaza City due to the accumulation of solid waste, which is exacerbated by limited access to necessary machinery and fuel. The humanitarian situation in Gaza remains critical, with ongoing challenges despite a fragile ceasefire between Hamas and Israel that has lasted almost a year.