The World Health Organization (WHO) wants to set up field hospitals in the Gaza Strip after the severe destruction caused by Israeli attacks. This is what the WHO representative for the occupied Palestinian territories, Richard Peeperkorn, said from Jerusalem via video link to reporters in Geneva.
Before the start of the Gaza war there were around 3,500 hospital beds there. Today only 1,400 are available in the sealed-off coastal area. However, because of the many injuries, the need is 5,000. In addition, 50 to 60 seriously ill patients per day must be brought out of the Gaza Strip as soon as possible in order to be able to receive adequate care in Egypt. The care in doctors’ practices is also severely affected, with a maximum of 60 percent still in use. Peeperkorn leaves it open whether Israel has given indications that it would agree to the evacuation and the establishment of field hospitals.