18,000 people awaiting evacuation in Gaza, including injured children

(Patria) - The World Health Organization (WHO) announced yesterday that medical supplies in Gaza are critically low, despite Israel reopening a key crossing this week.

Supplies of some items such as gauze and needles have already run out, said WHO Regional Director Hanan Balkhy.

She referred to information from the Ministry of Health in Gaza, devastated by the two-year war between Israel and Hamas.

- Supplies of essential medicines, trauma care equipment, and surgical consumables are critically low, and fuel shortages continue to limit hospital operations. The situation is dire, and we will run out of everything that is left - said Balkhy.

On Tuesday, the Israeli military agency controlling access to Gaza stated that it had reopened the Kerem Shalom border crossing "for the gradual entry of humanitarian aid".

The Rafah border crossing into Egypt, the main exit point for most people in Gaza, remained closed, and medical evacuations have been suspended, the WHO reported.

Around 18,000 people, including injured children and people with chronic illnesses, are awaiting evacuation, the UN agency added.

Half of the 36 hospitals in Gaza are still closed after the war between Israel and Hamas ended with a fragile ceasefire last October.

The remaining hospitals are struggling to maintain key activities such as surgery, dialysis, and intensive care, the WHO added.