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Doctors Without Borders on northern Gaza: “People are begging for water on the streets”

Sarah Vuylsteke, General Coordinator of Doctors Without Borders, condemned this Monday the “catastrophic” situation in northern Gaza and especially in the city of Jabaliya. “The Israeli crackdown continues for the third week and has left hundreds dead, many injured and thousands displaced,” he said.

Vuylsteke said his organization is particularly concerned about three things: the continued forced displacement of people “within northern Gaza, but also towards Gaza City” in the center of the Strip. “The conditions are extremely bad,” Vuylsteke stressed, assuring that people are forced to walk, “including children, people on crutches.” “There are reports of people crawling on the streets without food or water and asking for water.”

Similarly, the coordinator of Doctors Without Borders has expressed his “deep concern” about the conditions at three hospitals in the north of the Strip. “The Indonesian hospital has some patients and staff, but they are essentially out of service; Kamal Adwan Hospital received medical supplies and food on Thursday night, but Israeli forces raided there on Friday morning, and arrested most of the staff. Ultimately, Al-Awda hospital remains in a critical situation, without supplies and trying to function under the current conditions,” Vuylsteck said.

Finally, the Coordinator said that the situation in Gaza City is also critical: “Access to resources has been minimal for months due to the long-term Israeli blockade.” “This is an untenable situation,” Vuillestec concluded.