WHO says Gaza's Nasser hospital 'one massive trauma ward'
Gaza Humanitarian Foundation
, the World Health Organization said on Friday.
The U.S.- and Israeli-backed GHF began distributing food packages in Gaza at the end of May, overseeing a new model of deliveries that the United Nations says is neither impartial nor neutral. It has repeatedly denied that incidents involving people killed or wounded at its sites have occurred.
The GHF told Reuters on Friday that "the most deadly attacks on aid sites have been linked to U.N. convoys," and said the U.N. and humanitarian groups should work "collaboratively" with the GHF to "maximise the amount of aid being securely delivered into Gaza". The U.N. in Geneva was immediately available for comment.
Referring to medical staff at the Nasser hospital, Rik Peeperkorn, WHO representative in the West Bank and Gaza, told reporters in Geneva: "They've seen already for weeks, daily injuries ... (the) majority coming from the so-called safe non-UN food distribution sites. The hospital is now operating as one massive trauma ward."
Israel lifted an 11-week aid blockade on Gaza on May 19.
The United Nations human rights office said on Friday that it had recorded at least 613 killings both at aid points run by the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation and near humanitarian convoys.
"We have recorded 613 killings, both at GHF points and near humanitarian convoys - this is a figure as of June 27. Since then ... there have been further incidents," Ravina Shamdasani, the spokesperson for the U.N. Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, told reporters in Geneva.
The OHCHR said 509 of the 613 were killed near GHF distribution points. The GHF dismissed these numbers as coming "directly from the Hamas-controlled Gaza Health Ministry" and were being used to "falsely smear" its effort.
The GHF has previously said it has delivered more than 60 million meals to hungry Palestinians in five weeks "safely and without interference", while other humanitarian groups had "nearly all of their aid looted."
The U.N. office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs said that there have been some instances of violent looting and attacks on aid truck drivers, which it described as unacceptable.
BULLET WOUNDS
Hundreds of patients, mainly young boys, were being treated for traumatic injuries, including bullet wounds to the head, chest and knees, according to the WHO.
Peeperkorn said health workers at Nasser hospital and testimonies from family members and friends of those wounded confirmed that the victims had been trying to access aid at sites run by the GHF.
Peeperkorn recounted the cases of a 13-year-old boy shot in the head, as well as a 21-year-old with a bullet lodged in his neck which rendered him paraplegic.
"There is no chance for any reversal or any proper treatment. Young lives are being destroyed forever," Peeperkorn said, urging for the fighting to stop and for more food aid to be allowed into Gaza.
The war began when Hamas fighters stormed into Israel on October 7, 2023, killing 1,200 people and taking 251 hostages back to Gaza, according to Israeli tallies.
Israel's subsequent military assault has killed more than 57,000 Palestinians, according to the Gaza health ministry, while displacing most of the population of more than 2 million, triggering widespread hunger and leaving much of the territory in ruins.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Hans India
3 hours ago
- Hans India
Rs 48 crore boost to maternal and child healthcare in rural Karnataka
Infosys Foundation, the philanthropic and CSR arm of Infosys, on Friday announced its collaboration with Prashanthi Balamandira Trust, a UN-recognized organization that provides education, healthcare, nutrition, and community service free of charge in Karnataka. This collaboration will support the Sri Sathya Sai Sarla Memorial Hospi-tal, a multi-specialty teaching hospital under the auspices of Sri Madhusudan Sai In-stitute of Medical Sciences and Research (SMSIMSR), to provide free medical care to underprivileged women and infants and children, enhancing access to quality ma-ternal and child healthcare in rural Karnataka. Through this collaboration, the Infosys Foundation has pledged a grant of over INR 48 crore to augment healthcare infrastructure and facilities in maternal and childcare services. This includes advanced medical equipment for obstetrics and gynecology, as well as to enhance medical facilities of the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU), Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU), Intensive Care Unit (ICU), diagnostic radiology, and Operation Theatre (OT). A portion of the grant will also cover operational costs. This initiative is expected to benefit over 8,000 deserving individuals annually by en-suring timely medical interventions and specialized care, absolutely free of charge. The Sri Sathya Sai Sarla Memorial Hospital will offer services including comprehen-sive maternity care, pediatric care, gynecological procedures, pediatric cardiac cathe-terization interventions, and pediatric cardiac surgeries. By improving access to these essential and critical services to the underserved communities, this collaboration aims to reduce maternal and infant mortality rates in the region. The Founder SMSIMSR and Trustee Prashanthi Balamandira Trust, Sri Madhusudan Sai said, 'This benevolent collaboration with the esteemed Infosys Foundation has allowed us to strengthen critical mother and child health services at Sri Sathya Sai Sarla Memorial Hospital ensuring that even the most vulnerable and underprivileged receive the care they deserve. Also, the hospital being a teaching institution, the add-ed equipment will enable training and upskilling the doctors, both undergraduate and postgraduate, and also nursing and allied healthcare trainees, in turn contributing to capacity building in healthcare services. We extend our heartfelt gratitude to Infosys Foundation for their unwavering support and commitment to this noble cause, which will touch thousands of lives every year, empower families, and foster healthier com-munities.' The Trustee, Infosys Foundation, Sunil Kumar Dhareshwar said, 'Our collaboration with Prashanthi Balamandira Trust underscores Infosys Foundation's steadfast com-mitment to bridging healthcare disparities and ensuring equitable access to critical medical services for underserved communities. Through our support for Sri Sathya Sai Sarla Memorial Hospital, we aim to provide free, specialized care for women and children and provide long-term, high-quality healthcare to marginalized sections of society.'
Time of India
6 hours ago
- Time of India
WHO says Gaza's Nasser hospital 'one massive trauma ward'
Geneva: Nasser hospital in Gaza is operating as "one massive trauma ward" due to an influx of patients wounded at non-United Nations food distribution sites run by the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation , the World Health Organization said on Friday. The U.S.- and Israeli-backed GHF began distributing food packages in Gaza at the end of May, overseeing a new model of deliveries that the United Nations says is neither impartial nor neutral. It has repeatedly denied that incidents involving people killed or wounded at its sites have occurred. The GHF told Reuters on Friday that "the most deadly attacks on aid sites have been linked to U.N. convoys," and said the U.N. and humanitarian groups should work "collaboratively" with the GHF to "maximise the amount of aid being securely delivered into Gaza". The U.N. in Geneva was immediately available for comment. Referring to medical staff at the Nasser hospital, Rik Peeperkorn, WHO representative in the West Bank and Gaza, told reporters in Geneva: "They've seen already for weeks, daily injuries ... (the) majority coming from the so-called safe non-UN food distribution sites. The hospital is now operating as one massive trauma ward." Israel lifted an 11-week aid blockade on Gaza on May 19. The United Nations human rights office said on Friday that it had recorded at least 613 killings both at aid points run by the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation and near humanitarian convoys. "We have recorded 613 killings, both at GHF points and near humanitarian convoys - this is a figure as of June 27. Since then ... there have been further incidents," Ravina Shamdasani, the spokesperson for the U.N. Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, told reporters in Geneva. The OHCHR said 509 of the 613 were killed near GHF distribution points. The GHF dismissed these numbers as coming "directly from the Hamas-controlled Gaza Health Ministry" and were being used to "falsely smear" its effort. The GHF has previously said it has delivered more than 60 million meals to hungry Palestinians in five weeks "safely and without interference", while other humanitarian groups had "nearly all of their aid looted." The U.N. office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs said that there have been some instances of violent looting and attacks on aid truck drivers, which it described as unacceptable. BULLET WOUNDS Hundreds of patients, mainly young boys, were being treated for traumatic injuries, including bullet wounds to the head, chest and knees, according to the WHO. Peeperkorn said health workers at Nasser hospital and testimonies from family members and friends of those wounded confirmed that the victims had been trying to access aid at sites run by the GHF. Peeperkorn recounted the cases of a 13-year-old boy shot in the head, as well as a 21-year-old with a bullet lodged in his neck which rendered him paraplegic. "There is no chance for any reversal or any proper treatment. Young lives are being destroyed forever," Peeperkorn said, urging for the fighting to stop and for more food aid to be allowed into Gaza. The war began when Hamas fighters stormed into Israel on October 7, 2023, killing 1,200 people and taking 251 hostages back to Gaza, according to Israeli tallies. Israel's subsequent military assault has killed more than 57,000 Palestinians, according to the Gaza health ministry, while displacing most of the population of more than 2 million, triggering widespread hunger and leaving much of the territory in ruins.
Time of India
13 hours ago
- Time of India
New NHS plan will slash foreign recruits from 34% to less than 10% of workforce
UK PM Keir Starmer TOI Correspondent from London: UK PM Keir Starmer has announced plans to cut the number of overseas staff recruited for the NHS from its current level of 34% to under 10% by 2035, according to the 10-year NHS health plan unveiled this week. The largest cohort of foreign doctors and nurses in the NHS are Indian nationals. As of June 2023, there were 60,533 Indian nationals working as staff in the NHS. Of these, 10,865 hospital doctors and 31,992 nurses were Indian. 'While the NHS has always welcomed recruits from abroad, today, the NHS disproportionately relies on international recruitment…We will need to reduce the NHS' dependence on overseas staff from its current level — where 34% of new recruits have a non-UK nationality. It's our ambition to reduce international recruitment to less than 10% by 2035,' the plan states. It also says UK medical graduates will be prioritised above overseas recruits for foundation training, and will be prioritised, alongside those who have worked in the NHS for a significant period, for specialty training. It said that the 2020 decision to open competition for postgraduate medical training to international trainees on equal terms with UK-trained graduates meant the competition ratios for postgraduate places had increased to a level which was 'unacceptable'. Ramesh Mehta, president of BAPIO, which represents Indian-origin doctors and nurses, is opposed to the plan. He said a third of UK-trained medical graduates left the country last year and went to places like New Zealand, Canada and Australia. 'The number of medical staff required will continue to grow and will be impossible to have enough local graduates to fill the roles, especially if they continue to move abroad,' he said. He said the authors of the plan are 'living in dreamland' because unless things in the NHS change, local graduates will continue to emigrate. 'Last year almost 10,000 Indian doctors came to the UK to take the screening exam to work in the NHS. But many have no jobs and some have gone back. There are no jobs in the NHS at a junior level. Many doctors can't get postgraduate training in India so that's why they want to come to the UK,' he said, explaining training posts should be given on merit to those already working in the NHS, not on nationality.
