WHO warns of spreading health crisis in West Bank

The UN health agency has highlighted the increase in violence in the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, since the conflict between the Hamas Islamist movement and Israel broke out on October 7, 2023. So far in the West Bank, the conflict has claimed the lives of 521 Palestinians, including 126 children. This number is even higher according to Palestinian officials.

The WHO said the conflict in the region has also left more than 5,200 people, including 800 children, injured, increasing the need for emergency treatment in already strained health facilities.

The West Bank - an area occupied by Israel since 1967 - has seen increased violence for more than a year, especially since the Hamas-Israel conflict broke out more than eight months ago.

From October 7, 2023 to May 28, 2024, WHO recorded 480 attacks in the West Bank, including attacks on health facilities and ambulances, and detention of health workers and patients.

In addition, the closure of checkpoints, increasing insecurity, as well as sieges and closures of entire communities are making movement within the West Bank increasingly restricted and access to care more difficult than ever.

The WHO warned that the long-running financial crisis will worsen from October 7, 2023, as Israel ramps up its withholding of tax revenue for the Palestinian territories, also taking a toll on the health sector.

According to the WHO, health workers have received only half their salaries for nearly a year and 45% of essential medicines are out of stock. Hospitals are currently operating at around 70% capacity.

Finding medical care outside the West Bank has also become more difficult for patients, with 44% of requests to facilities in East Jerusalem and Israel being rejected or pending since October 7 last year.

WHO calls for immediate protection of civilians and strengthening of health care systems in the West Bank.