Gaza patients risk death as medicine shortages worsen under ongoing crossings closure

Palestinian patients in Gaza are emerging as among the hardest-hit victims of Israel's suffocating blockade, with critical medicine and medical supply shortages now pushing countless lives to the brink.

The prolonged closure of crossings since March 2 has depleted hospitals of essential resources, creating life-or-death crises for those requiring treatment, from chronic illnesses to war injuries.

The Health Ministry in Gaza has repeatedly warned of the increasing medicine shortage crisis in Gaza which affects their already poor capabilities in treating people.

- Severe medicine shortage

Speaking to Anadolu, Alaa Hilles, the director of the Hospital Pharmacy Department in the Health Ministry in Gaza, said more than 37% of the essential medicines and at least 59% of the medical disposables are unavailable in the ministry's medicine stores.

"This shortage directly affects all medical services including those services to treating cancers and blood diseases," Hilles also said, noting that 54% of the medicines to treat these illnesses are unavailable.

He added that over 24% of the medicines needed for dialysis patients are also unavailable.

The Palestinian doctor noted that the ministry in Gaza regularly provides reports on the medicine shortages to the relevant international groups, including the International Committee of the Red Cross and the World Health Organization.

- Seeking alternatives

Under the current medicine shortage, the health official said the ministry is seeking medical alternatives to deal with the shortage and reduce complications for patients.

He, however, noted that such alternatives do not work in all cases where changing the medicine in several cases may pose a risk to the patients' health.

- UN warning

The UN on Monday marked 50 days since Israel imposed a complete blockade on humanitarian aid into the Gaza Strip, warning of a rapidly deteriorating situation that is endangering the lives of civilians.

"Today marks 50 days since the Israeli authorities have completely blocked incoming supplies of any kind into the Gaza Strip," UN spokesperson Stephane Dujarric said at a news conference.

Citing the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, Dujarric said: "Since early March, not a single truck carrying food, fuel, medicine or any other essentials have been allowed in no matter how critical they are for people's survival."

Last week, the Gaza-based Government Media Office warned of the shortage of medicine in Gaza and the spread of diseases among people in the war-torn enclave.

The Israeli army resumed its assault on Gaza on March 18, shattering a Jan. 19 ceasefire and prisoner exchange agreement.

Overall, it has killed more than 51,200 Palestinians in Gaza since October 2023.

Israel halted the delivery of aid to the enclave on March 2, hours after the end of the truce deal's 42-day first phase.