In a grim situation, Dr. Ahmed Moghrabi of Nasser Medical Complex in southern Gaza has been working tirelessly amidst the ongoing conflict with neighboring Israel. The hospital, one of the few still operating in the region, has been overwhelmed with patients and displaced people seeking shelter.

A recent visit by a team from the World Health Organization (WHO) revealed the catastrophic conditions at the hospital. Dr. Ahmed Al-Mandhari, WHO's regional director for the Eastern Mediterranean, described the situation as dire during a briefing. The building and hospital grounds were described as grossly overcrowded, with limited resources and severe shortages of health workers, fuel, water, medicines, and food.

The emergency department at Nasser Medical Complex is overflowing, leaving patients to be treated on the floor due to the lack of available beds. The WHO posted a video inside the hospital, showing it operating at three times beyond its capacity. The situation in southern Gaza echoes that of northern Gaza, where the number of functioning hospitals has dropped significantly in the last two months.

For the people in southern Gaza who have been ordered to evacuate, finding a safe place and basic necessities has become an immense challenge. U.N. Secretary-General António Guterres expressed deep concern, remarking that there is nowhere safe to go and very little to survive on.

Dr. Moghrabi shed light on the scarcity of resources at the hospital, noting that while there have been minimal medical supplies trickling in, there is a severe shortage of water and food. He expressed his fear of the troops being near and revealed that many medical personnel have already fled the area, leaving behind a desperate situation for those in need of medical care.

As the conflict between Israel and Hamas continues, the WHO emphasizes the importance of preserving Nasser Medical Complex and preventing the loss of another hospital. With the number of functioning hospitals in Gaza decreasing, the urgency to provide immediate assistance and resources has grown exponentially.

The international community must come together to support the region and address the pressing healthcare needs of the people in Gaza. The well-being and lives of many depend on swift and substantial action to alleviate the catastrophic conditions and ensure access to essential medical care.