The World Health Organization announced that the damage to the health sector in Gaza and the West Bank since the start of the Israeli occupation aggression in October 2023 exceeded $7 billion, distributed between reconstruction costs and requirements for providing health services.

In a media briefing via video link from Geneva, the WHO Representative in the occupied Palestinian territory, Rick Peeperkorn, said that 772 health facilities were completely or partially destroyed, which constitutes:

95% of hospitals

91% of private health facilities

88% of public health centers

In addition to the damage to many pharmacies and clinics.

He pointed out that the losses from the destruction of the health infrastructure amounted to 1.3 billion dollars, including 809 million dollars due to the destruction of hospitals, with the Gaza Strip bearing the largest share of these losses at 682 million dollars, followed by North Gaza ($112 million) and Khan Yunis ($132 million).

Human losses and a crisis in health services

According to the report, the total losses in the health sector in the Gaza Strip amounted to $6.3 billion due to the interruption of services and the shortage of medical personnel, as the sector lost 1,700 health workers, which led to production losses estimated at $2.7 billion.

The increased health burden from injuries, infectious diseases, malnutrition and psychological problems caused an additional $3.2 billion in losses, of which $2.5 billion was directly related to injuries and deaths.

Continuing financial losses

In addition to the material and human damage, the report indicated that health facilities lost $8.6 million annually as a result of the cessation of direct payments from patients, which increases the challenges facing the health system in providing services to those in need.

The organization stressed that rebuilding the health system in Gaza and the West Bank requires urgent international support, in light of the continued deterioration of the humanitarian and medical situation.