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A senior World Health Organisation (WHO) official on Monday expressed deep concern that none of the agency’s medical aid trucks have been permitted to enter the Gaza Strip since Israel officially ended its blockade.
While general humanitarian aid has slowly begun to re-enter the Palestinian territory recently after being blocked for over two months, WHO’s regional director for the Eastern Mediterranean, Hanan Balkhy, revealed that “for more than 11 weeks, there have been no WHO trucks entering Gaza for medical care support.”
Balkhy described the situation as “devastating,” emphasising grave concerns not only for immediate support but also for the long-term impact on future generations.
She highlighted that out of approximately 400 trucks cleared for Gaza, only 115 have managed to pass through, with none reaching the besieged north, and critically, none being WHO trucks.
There are currently 51 WHO trucks carrying medical equipment awaiting border crossing.
Ahmed Zouiten, the WHO region’s emergencies director, expressed hope that the delay for WHO trucks was merely a matter of time but acknowledged uncertainty about when or if they would cross soon.
Israel’s renewed offensive, aimed at destroying Hamas, has drawn widespread international condemnation due to the severe food and medical shortages exacerbated by the blockade imposed since early March.
European and Arab leaders meeting in Spain have called for an end to the “inhumane” and “senseless” war, while humanitarian groups stress that the current aid flow is woefully insufficient.
The conflict, triggered by Hamas’ October 2023 attack on Israel, has resulted in immense casualties.
The health ministry in Hamas-run Gaza reported that since the ceasefire collapsed on March 18, at least 3,822 people have been killed in the territory, bringing the total war toll to 53,977, predominantly civilians.
