WHO Warns of Medical Supply Crisis in the Gaza Strip
World Health Organization (WHO) warns of a worsening medical supply crisis in the Gaza Strip due to restricted access for humanitarian aid into the territory.
Hanan Balkhy, WHO’s Regional Director for the Eastern Mediterranean, said stocks of essential medical supplies in Gaza are now almost exhausted. Some crucial items such as gauze and needles are reportedly no longer available.
‘In Gaza, the health system remains extremely fragile. Stocks of essential medicines, trauma care equipment, and surgical instruments are very limited,’ Balkhy said on Friday (6 March 2026).
He added that the fuel crisis is also worsening conditions by limiting the operational capacity of hospitals in the area.
Balkhy warned that without consistent humanitarian access—including safe delivery of medical supplies and the resumption of medical evacuations—patients in Gaza will continue to face delays in treatment that could threaten life.
According to him, the WHO had managed to deliver a number of medical supplies and fuel to Gaza on Tuesday and Wednesday. However, some aid trucks remain held up in the city of El Arish, Egypt.
He explained that the number of aid trucks entering Gaza currently is no more than 200 per day. Yet the region is estimated to require at least 600 aid trucks daily to meet the needs of the population.
WHO also urged that more fuel be allowed in so that hospitals still operating can continue to provide health services.
Of the 36 hospitals in Gaza, around half have been closed since the start of the ceasefire. Meanwhile, health facilities that remain operational are struggling hard to sustain vital services such as surgery, dialysis, and intensive care.
The situation is further worsened by the Rafah Crossing— the main entry and exit point for Gaza residents— remaining closed. As a result, medical evacuations have also been delayed.
According to WHO data, around 18,000 people, including injured children and patients with chronic illnesses, are currently awaiting medical evacuation to receive appropriate care.