SAO PAULO - The World Health Organisation (WHO) has called for the immediate restoration of the ceasefire in Gaza following devastating overnight Israeli attacks that reportedly claimed more than 400 lives and left hundreds severely injured on Tuesday, Mar. 18, according to Palestinian authorities.

 In the aftermath of the strikes, hospitals in Khan Yunis are operating at full capacity, yet only 20 of Gaza's 36 hospitals remain partially functional, WHO representative Dr Richard Peeperkorn said during a media briefing attended by the Italian Insider.

 Gaza’s health sector is critically overburdened, exacerbated by a blockade that has prevented humanitarian supplies from entering the region since Mar. 2. “Continuous flow of aid is essential for the survival of the Gaza population,” Dr Peeperkorn warned, highlighting critical shortages of trauma surgical kits, essential medications for non-communicable diseases, and fuel for hospital generators.

 The blockade has further deepened crises in food security, water supply, and shelter. Spiralling food prices have reduced meal availability for families, with particularly severe effects on children, pregnant women, and the elderly.

 “Currently, it is estimated that half a million people in Gaza need bed supplies, 1.6 million require kitchen sets, and 1 million are in need of tents,” Dr Peeperkorn noted.

 Water scarcity remains dire, with the South Gaza Desalination Plant operating at just 13 per cent of its capacity. This has left an estimated 600,000 residents of Deir al-Balah and Khan Yunis without access to clean drinking water or proper sanitation, he explained.

 Adding to the crisis, medical evacuations have ground to a halt. Between 11,000 and 13,000 people, including 4,500 children, require urgent medical transfers. The WHO has prepared 16 trucks loaded with critical supplies, but these remain blocked from entering Gaza due to the ongoing restrictions, according to Dr Peeperkorn.

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