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STORY: WHO / GAZA AL-SHIFA MEDICAL COMPLEX
TRT: 03:02
SOURCE: WHO
RESTRICTIONS: PLEASE CREDIT WHO ON SCREEN
LANGUAGE: ENGLISH / NATS
DATELINE: 23 DECEMBER 2023, AL-SHIFA MEDICAL COMPLEX, GAZA
1. Various shots, exterior, busy medical complex
2. Various shots, hospital ward over crowded with patients, IDPs and health care workers
3. SOUNDBITE (English) Sean Casey, Emergency Medical Team Coordinator, World Health Organization (WHO):
“I'm back in Al-Shifa, the largest hospital in Gaza, for the third time this week, where it's still a case of absolute misery with people still on the floors, it's almost impossible to walk. Critical cases, doctors and nurses absolutely scrambling, people crying out that they need blood for their son and daughter who are dying. There's almost nothing that this team can do, this very small clinical team can do to help all of these people. It's absolute chaos, still. And actually, this is even after the hospital staff told us that the fighting has quieted down for the last few days. It's nonstop, 24 hours a day, serious and critical injuries coming in and a very small staff to help them.”
4. Various shots, overcrowded ward with patients in chairs and on the floor being treated by medical staff
5. SOUNDBITE (English) Sean Casey, Emergency Medical Team Coordinator, World Health Organization (WHO):
“Today, we provided fuel to the hospital, so they'll be able to power the lights and the machines to allow surgeries to happen. It's a multi-pronged problem. It's a very challenging situation, but we're trying to tackle the different elements of this, at the same time to allow small elements of the hospital to come back online.”
6. Various shots, IDPs and patients, hospital corridor
7. SOUNDBITE (English) Sean Casey, Emergency Medical Team Coordinator, World Health Organization (WHO):
“There's the risk of a famine here in Gaza, actually, and even here in the hospital, everybody says that they only have rice. They have very often only one meal a day and they're hungry. So, you know, we've brought medical supplies here, we've brought surgical supplies here. Everybody wants food. And we're currently in the kitchen trying to find a way that we can reactivate this kitchen.”
8. Wide shot, crowded hospital kitchen, UN staff, IDPs
On Saturday (23 Dec), the World Health Organization (WHO) and partners visited and delivered supplies to Al-Shifa Hospital and visited three other hospitals in Gaza in multiple convoys.
According to WHO, Al-Shifa was once Gaza’s biggest hospital, but relentless hostilities and massive numbers of wounded people have brought its capacities to its knees.
Sean Casey, WHO Emergency Medical Team Coordinator said, “I'm back in Al-Shifa, the largest hospital in Gaza, for the third time this week, where it's still a case of absolute misery with people still on the floors, it's almost impossible to walk. Critical cases, doctors and nurses absolutely scrambling, people crying out that they need blood for their son and daughter who are dying. There's almost nothing that this team can do, this very small clinical team can do to help all of these people. It's absolute chaos, still. And actually, this is even after the hospital staff told us that the fighting has quieted down for the last few days. It's nonstop, 24 hours a day, serious and critical injuries coming in and a very small staff to help them.”
The supply of 19,200 liters of generator fuel delivered on Saturday will help revive vital services; however, more will be needed, according to WHO.
Sean Casey, WHO Emergency Medical Team Coordinator said, “Today, we provided fuel to the hospital, so they'll be able to power the lights and the machines to allow surgeries to happen. It's a multi-pronged problem. It's a very challenging situation, but we're trying to tackle the different elements of this, at the same time to allow small elements of the hospital to come back online.”
The Health UN agency reported that the hospital’s oxygen plant was destroyed during the hostilities.
Al-Shifa is also providing refuge to 50,000 displaced people, according to hospital authorities.
The UN health agency stated that sustained humanitarian access is essential for humanitarians to deliver food, water, fuel, medicines, and other supplies safely and continuously to over 2 million people, but such guaranteed, ongoing, safe access has not yet been put in place.
The joint mission also visited the NGO-run Patient Friends Hospital, which provides maternity, trauma, and emergency care.
According to WHO, Patient Friends Hospital performs 6-8 operations a day but lacks specialized vascular surgeons, neurosurgeons and intensive care staff, plusantibiotics, pain relief medicines and external fixators.
Al-Helou Hospital, which specializes in maternity care, manages 10-15 deliveries daily, including four C-sections.
WHO stressed that the hospital urgently needs fuel, food and drinking water.
Casey said, “There's the risk of a famine here in Gaza, actually, and even here in the hospital, everybody says that they only have rice. They have very often only one meal a day and they're hungry. So, you know, we've brought medical supplies here, we've brought surgical supplies here. Everybody wants food. And we're currently in the kitchen trying to find a way that we can reactivate this kitchen.”
The larger Al-Sahaba Maternity Hospital, which handles around 20 deliveries, including 12 C-sections, daily, is functioning with only three doctors, only one of whom can perform C-sections.
It faces oxygen, antibiotics, and anesthesia shortages, WHO reported.
