WHO: Gaza hospitals operating below capacity amid shortages

The World Health Organization has said that hospitals in the Gaza Strip are not operating at full capacity due to ongoing shortages of medicines, equipment, and medical supplies, which is hindering the restoration of health services in the territory.

Reinilde Van De Weerdt, the WHO representative in the occupied Palestinian territory, explained that medical supplies wait an average of 74 days for approval to be shipped, noting that 40% of laboratory and diagnostic equipment remains held up awaiting clearance.

She added that receiving approval does not guarantee shipments will enter Gaza, as they may face further procedures or be denied entry later.

The World Health Organization called for unimpeded, regular, and large-scale entry of aid and health supplies into Gaza, urging the use of multiple crossings to speed up delivery to health facilities.