Gaza is facing what the World Health Organization has described as a “health catastrophe” that could last for generations. The warning comes as famine, disease and widespread injuries overwhelm the territory’s shattered medical system.
Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-General of the World Health Organization, told the BBC that the humanitarian crisis in Gaza had reached a point of no return without a massive surge in international aid.
He said the situation was worsening despite a ceasefire that has allowed some medical supplies and humanitarian aid to enter the enclave since October 10.
“Levels of aid entering Gaza are far below what is needed to restore even the most basic healthcare,” Dr Tedros said, urging Israel to expand access for humanitarian organizations.
His comments came as the United States continued efforts to reinforce the ceasefire it helped broker following renewed violence over the weekend. The agreement is part of a 20-point peace plan that includes commitments to increase aid deliveries and ensure supplies are distributed without interference.
Dr Tedros welcomed the peace deal but warned that the increase in aid shipments had fallen short of expectations. “The people of Gaza are suffering from famine, overwhelming injuries, and disease outbreaks driven by the destruction of water and sanitation systems,” he said.
He described the situation as a “fatal combination” of conditions that make it “catastrophic and beyond words.”
When asked about the long-term health outlook, Dr Tedros said the crisis would leave lasting scars on the population. “If you take famine and combine it with mental health problems, you have a generational crisis,” he said.
The United Nations has echoed his concerns. Tom Fletcher, head of the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, said aid groups were beginning to “turn the tide on the starvation crisis” but warned that “far more” was needed.
The World Food Programme reported that trucks carrying 6,700 tonnes of food had entered Gaza since October 10. However, that figure remains well below the 2,000 tonnes per day required to meet basic needs.
Dr Tedros said that six hundred aid trucks must reach Gaza daily to prevent further collapse, but the current average is between 200 and 300. He urged Israel to separate humanitarian aid from political and military considerations.
On Sunday, Israel temporarily suspended aid deliveries following an attack in which two Israeli soldiers were killed. Hamas said it was unaware of the clashes. The Israeli military responded with air strikes that killed dozens of Palestinians before reopening crossings under international pressure.
Dr Tedros called for an end to what he described as the “weaponisation” of aid. He urged Israel not to impose political conditions on humanitarian shipments, including those linked to the return of hostages or their remains.
Hamas has pledged to return the remains of Israeli hostages but has so far handed over only 15 of 28, citing difficulties retrieving the rest.
Last week, 20 Israeli hostages were freed in exchange for nearly 2,000 Palestinian prisoners. Dr Tedros said the ceasefire deal must now be followed by full humanitarian access.
“There should be no conditions on aid after hostages have been released,” he told the BBC. “People are dying because they cannot access healthcare.”
He also said the United States bears responsibility for ensuring the peace deal it brokered is upheld by both sides. “Since the US facilitated this agreement, it must make sure all parties respect it,” he added.
Israel currently allows aid through two border crossings: Kerem Shalom in the southeast and Kissufim in central Gaza. Humanitarian agencies are calling for additional routes to be opened to meet urgent needs.
Dr Tedros said Israel must reopen all available crossings and permit previously banned aid groups to resume operations in the Strip. “You cannot scale up a response without those who can deliver on the ground,” he said.
He added that some medical supplies had been confiscated at border inspections because Israeli authorities classified them as “dual-use” materials. “If you want to build a field hospital, you need tents and pillars. If those are removed, you cannot build it,” he said.
Thousands of Palestinians are waiting for evacuation flights for medical treatment abroad, but no flights have departed for two weeks due to religious holidays in Israel. Dr Tedros said 700 people have died while waiting for medical evacuation and called for an immediate increase in flights.
Israel’s current military campaign began after the October 7, 2023, Hamas-led attack that killed about 1,200 people in Israel and led to 251 hostages being taken into Gaza.
According to Gaza’s Hamas-run health ministry, at least 68,229 Palestinians have been killed in Israeli attacks since the war began. The figures have not been independently verified.
In July, a UN-backed review concluded that famine conditions existed in Gaza, though Israel rejected the findings, saying there was no starvation. The UN has estimated that rebuilding Gaza will cost around 70 billion dollars, with at least 10 percent required for the health sector.
Dr Tedros said peace remains the best solution for Gaza’s suffering population. “Peace is the best medicine,” he said. “But the ceasefire is fragile, and people continue to die even after it was declared.”
He recalled the scenes of joy when the ceasefire was first announced. “Many people were dancing in the streets, believing the war was over,” he said. “Tragically, some of those same people are now dead because the peace was broken.”
