As Israel continues its aggression against the Gaza Strip for the second month running thousands of Gazan patients are facing a slow death due to the severe lack of medical care Euro-Med Human Rights Monitor said on Wednesday.
“The Israeli attacks and targeting of hospitals along with Israel’s cutting off of humanitarian supplies have put hundreds of cancer and chronic disease patients pregnant women and newborn babies at risk of death” Euro-Med Monitor warned.
“The international human rights group drew attention to the grave dangers associated with Gaza’s worsening health service deficit. Prior to the recent Israeli bombardment of the Strip the region was already severely underfunded and cancer patients in particular faced difficulties in receiving the medical care they required despite their urgent health needs” Euro-Med explained.
The Euro-Med Monitor team has documented “the deaths of at least 12 cancer patients in the Gaza Strip following the closure of the Turkish-Palestinian Friendship Hospital the only hospital in the Strip that specialized in treating cancer patients.”
“The facility shut down about 10 days ago and other hospitals in Gaza lack the ability to provide these patients with the care that is necessary for their survival”
“The Turkish-Palestinian Friendship Hospital was forced to close due to frequent Israeli attacks as well as a lack of fuel and medical supplies — factors which ultimately pushed the hospital’s administration to evacuate all patients and send them to shelter centers or back to their homes in the absence of medical care.”
According to Euro-Med human rights organizations warned that “thousands of patients — more than 2000 cancer patients more than 1000 patients in need of dialysis to survive 50000 cardiovascular patients and over 60000 diabetics — urgently need access to basic healthcare services considering the severe shortage of medications medical supplies fuel food and clean water.”
“Thousands of elderly and bedridden patients are suffering from a complete lack of health care while pregnant women and newborn infants are at risk of death from dehydration malnutrition and lack of medical care.”
“There are currently over 55000 pregnant women in Gaza 5500 of whom are about to give birth. Many women are being forced to give birth in overcrowded hospitals homes and shelters raising the risk of infection and other critical health problems. The rate of miscarriage among pregnant women in the Strip has also recently increased by more than four times.”
Euro-Med charged that “Israel is carrying out one of the bloodiest collective punishment campaigns in modern history against the over 2.3 million people in the Gaza Strip which represents a flagrant violation of international humanitarian law and a grave violation of the rules of war.”
Euro-Med “renewed its call to all members of the international community particularly those who have ratified the Geneva Convention to fulfill their obligations to protect civilians and preserve medical facilities in the Gaza Strip to promptly supply them with the resources they require and to make sure they are never targeted.”
