Only about a third of Gaza’s hospitals are functioning in any way, some only partly following months of Israeli bombardment, the UN healthcare agency denounced.

It also warned that the fighting has intensified in central and southern Gaza, putting additional pressure on overburdened hospitals that remain open, especially around Al Aqsa Hospital, the European Gaza Hospital, and the Nasser Medical Complex.

“What we are seeing is the health system suffering: health workers unable to go to their workplace to care for patients because they fear for their lives. Patients who fear and their families who fear going to the hospital because they may die on the way,” Sean Casey, WHO emergency medical teams coordinator in Gaza, said.

The UN healthcare agency called for safe access to provide healthcare across the enclave and deliver food, medical supplies, and fuel.

It warned that it has been unable to reach northern Gaza for two weeks because it has not received the necessary permits to proceed safely.

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