Doctors Without Borders (MSF) has warned of “critical” medical supply shortages in Gaza, with no replenishment in over two months as the war in Gaza continues, Amber Alayyan, MSF pediatrician, told AFP.
The organization known by the French initials MSF is “facing critical shortages of many things like gauze, gloves… things like that,” she said, according to Barron’s.
The relief organization warned last week in a statement that it has been unable to deliver medical supplies into Gaza since the end of April and urged Israel to open more crossing points into the area.
To save money on supplies, MSF workers now change wound dressings every four days instead of every two, according to pediatrician Alayyan.
Israel is conducting a massive military operation in Gaza to clear out Hamas fighters, which has intensified since Hamas launched its attack on October 7.
MSF now fears running out of critical drugs, such as anesthetic required for surgery.
“If we have to continue going like this… we won’t be able to operate. We won’t operate without anesthesia,” Alayyan said.
UNRWA, the United Nations agency in charge of aid for Palestinian refugees, reported last month that almost ten children per day lost one or both legs in Gaza.
“Most of the amputations… are being done as life-saving amputations,” Alayyan stated.
The medical professional added: “We don’t even have enough wheelchairs in our own hospital… let alone prosthetic devices.”
According to Alayyan, disability access is problematic, “Gaza needs to be rebuilt. So it will have to be renovated with wheelchair-accessible ramps all over the place for the hundreds of people who will be using wheelchairs,” she explained.
With around 88,000 individuals injured in Gaza, the health ministry predicts a “proper catastrophe for years to come in terms of post-operative care, wound care, amputations, and prosthetics,” according to Alayyan.
Gaza’s health officials stated, the ongoing Israeli attacks have killed at least 38,295 individuals, the majority of whom were civilians since October 07.