United Nations reports reveal that Gaza’s elderly population is among those most at-risk as its healthcare system disintegrates under relentless bombardment, according to United Nations reports. Hospitals have been destroyed, medical staff overwhelmed and essential services suspended – leaving older residents who live with chronic conditions vulnerable against violence and scarcity.
Healthcare Infrastructure on Brink of Collapse
Since hostilities resumed in March, the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) has reported repeated strikes targeting hospitals, ambulances and healthcare personnel.
Nearly half of Gaza’s hospitals have now become nonfunctional. Only five facilities with full capacity operations and one intensive-care unit remain operating; Naser Hospital in Khan Younis remains operational as an example. For more details see cadenaser.com +5 and Wikipedia +5.
This signifies a severe breakdown in medical capacity.
The World Health Organization (WHO) has repeatedly warned of a systemic health emergency in Gaza. Hospitals such as Nasser Medical Complex and Al-Amal may close completely, leaving northern Gaza without any functional healthcare facility to serve residents. See Aljazeera for more details, who.int for information, unicef.org for updates, etc.
Fuel shortages prevent generators from operating properly, leading to service interruptions.
According to the UN Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA), Gaza’s elderly who often struggle with preexisting ailments such as hypertension, diabetes and respiratory disease are particularly at risk of injury from threats that threaten them. Dawn.com reports:
Displacement, mobility issues and dependence on continuous care means they have limited access to critical treatments, medications and support networks that could save their lives.
An UNRWA Protection Brief details how disruption of services has led to worsening health among older persons, many living with undiagnosed chronic illnesses, interrupted care delivery and tremendous psychological strain. Many are also living without access to any treatment for such illnesses as they suffer through untreatable illnesses with untreatable chronic ailments unicef.org +7 and unrwa.org+7 (UNICEF.org and UNRWA respectively).
OCHA reports that entire families are leaving, leaving elderly members behind in isolation and depression.
Breakdown of Core Services
Medical infrastructure has been targeted and destroyed through direct targeting and subsequent blockades, leaving vital services rudderless. From surgeries to dialysis and intensive care services, all aspects of healthcare have become disorganized – with wound care or cancer treatments becoming unavailable for older people who depend on such pathways for care.
As water and sanitation breakdowns exacerbate this crisis, dehydration and infectious disease continue to affect older patients while malnutrition persists – families report feeding elderly relatives inadequate rations of milky water mixed with rice or lentils – an unfortunate parallel in children’s nutrition.
UNRWA and humanitarian partners are calling for immediate action from all parties involved, specifically attacks on healthcare infrastructure. WHO urges protecting remaining hospitals such as Nasser and Al-Amal in southern Gaza including who.int+15 or ft.com+15 as immediate priority.
At an earlier point, WHO declared “we have reached a medical cliff-edge,” according to one spokesperson in June. Without ceasefire and unrestricted humanitarian access for most vulnerable groups–particularly elderly–conditions will deteriorate quickly for them, particularly elderly. www.unrwa.org.
Medical Staff Are Suffering Under Exertional Pressure
Healthcare workers themselves are experiencing severe fatigue, burnout and health risks. OCHA reports that doctors often faint from exhaustion and hunger during mass casualty events (ochaopt.org).
Ambulances have also been attacked, delaying emergency responses. Newyorker.com reports this trend as well.
Conclusion
Gaza’s elderly who require complex health management are being subject to life-threatening neglect amid the collapse of healthcare infrastructure. With hospitals in ruins, shifting frontlines preventing aid delivery, and no comprehensive ceasefire on the horizon, humanitarian catastrophe is intensifying rapidly; advocates warn that without prompt international intervention they may bear a heavy toll.
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