Gaza: Destruction of hospitals - UNFPA
/
3:23
/
MP4
/
250.6 MB

Edited News | UNFPA

Gaza: Destruction of hospitals - UNFPA

Gaza: UN humanitarians decry ‘purposefully broken’ life-saving medical supplies.

Returning from a 10-day mission in Gaza, a senior representative from the UN Population Fund (UNFPA) described the situation as a “humanitarian hellscape” after six and a half months of Israeli attacks on healthcare at embattled hospitals in the north, central and southern governorates.

“What I saw, it breaks my heart, it's indescribable. What we see there is medical equipment, purposefully broken, ultrasounds, which you will know is a very important tool for helping ensure safe births, with cables that have been cut, screens of complex medical equipment like ultrasounds and with the screens smashed,” reported Dominic Allen, UNFPA Representative for the State of Palestine.

The UNFPA mission, which commenced on Monday 8 April, and concluded this Wednesday, was conducted in collaboration with the UN World Health Organization (WHO), the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), and the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA). Their goal was to visit approximately 10 hospitals in Gaza, including Al Aqsa Hospital in central Gaza, which was described as "overwhelmed with trauma patients" and unable to provide maternity care support.

“I am terrified for the one million women and girls in Gaza right now, and especially for the 180 women giving birth every single day and giving birth in inhumane, unimaginable conditions,” said the UNFPA Representative, who spoke via video link from Jerusalem to journalists in Geneva.

Compared to the situation pre-war in Gaza, when around 15 per cent of now births required some form of emergency obstetric care, twice that number are now being reported anecdotally.

“There is absolutely an increase in the numbers,” noted Mr. Allen. “Some doctors reported a doubling of what they previously had dealt with in terms of dealing with complications with birth. And this is due to malnutrition, dehydration and fear, which impact the pregnant woman's ability to give birth safely and carry their baby to full term safely.”

Al-Shifa, which was the biggest hospital in Gaza for tertiary care, lies in complete ruins, according to Mr. Allen. In the south in Rafah, the Emirati hospital, which is a major lifeline for pregnant women in Gaza, supports around 50-60 births every single day, including 10 to 12 Caesarean sections.

The UNFPA mission, supported by the UN demining service UNMAS, also visited the Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis in the southern region, which operated a maternity ward that had been supported and provided with supplies by UNFPA teams.

While visiting Nasser Hospital, “we have (had) to be careful for unexploded ordnance together with UNMAS we were walking through the entrance into there, it was unrecognizable from when I went and visited two months ago,” said Mr. Allen. “It didn't seem as if there was any piece of working medical equipment. The maternity ward, the birthing rooms that I visited earlier stand silent. There should be a place of giving life and they just have an eerie sense of death.”

Three schools run by the UN agency for Palestinian refugees, UNRWA, which now function as designated shelters are now being transformed into emergency medical points to deploy midwives because pregnant women are not getting enough access to pre- and post-natal health care. This is a partnership organised by UNRWA, UNFPA and the Palestinian Medical Relief Society.

Speaking about Rafah where more than 1.2 million people are sheltering and facing continued fears of an Israeli incursion, the UNFPA officer underscored that “fear remains ever present as a military incursion in Rafah would compound the humanitarian catastrophe”.

-ends-

STORY: Gaza: Destruction of hospitals - UNFPA

TRT: 3:23”

SOURCE: UNTV CH

RESTRICTIONS: NONE

LANGUAGE: ENGLISH / NATS

ASPECT RATIO: 16:9

DATELINE: 19 April 2024 GENEVA, SWITZERLAND

  1. Exterior wide shot: UN flag alley
  2. Wide shot: speaker at the podium during press conference
  3. SOUNDBITE (English) – Dominic Allen, UNFPA Representative for the State of Palestine (speaking from Jerusalem): “I am terrified for the 1 million women and girls in Gaza right now, and especially for the 180 women giving birth every single day and giving birth in inhumane, unimaginable conditions.”
  4. Wide shot: speaker at the podium from behind with journalists in press room
  5. SOUNDBITE (English) – Dominic Allen, UNFPA Representative for the State of Palestine (speaking from Jerusalem): “What I saw it breaks my heart. Again, it's indescribable. What we see there is medical equipment, purposefully broken. Ultrasounds, which you will know is a very important tool for helping ensure safe births, with cables that have been cut. Screens of complex medical equipment like ultrasounds and with the screens smashed.”
  6. Wide shot: speaker at the podium with journalists in press room
  7. SOUNDBITE (English) – Dominic Allen, UNFPA Representative for the State of Palestine (speaking from Jerusalem): “We have to be careful for unexploded ordnance together with UNMAS we were walking through the entrance into there, it was unrecognizable from when I went and visited two months ago. It didn't seem as if there was any piece of working medical equipment. The maternity ward, the birthing rooms that I visited earlier stand silent. There should be a place of giving life and they just have an eerie sense of death.”
  8. Wide shot: Journalists in the press room and screens with speaker
  9. SOUNDBITE (English) – Dominic Allen, UNFPA Representative for the State of Palestine (speaking from Jerusalem): “There is absolutely an increase in the numbers. Some doctors reported a doubling of what they previously had dealt with in terms of, dealing with complications with birth. And this is due to malnutrition, dehydration and fear, which impact the pregnant woman's ability to give birth safely and carry their baby to full term safely.”
  10. Med shot: Zoom operators behind window in control room
  11. SOUNDBITE (English) - Dominic Allen, UNFPA Representative for the State of Palestine (speaking from Jerusalem): “My impression, coming back to East Jerusalem today is, that fear remains ever present as a military incursion in Rafah would compound the humanitarian catastrophe.”
  12. Close up: journalist typing
  13. Med shot, journalists in press briefing
  14. Divers shots, Dominic Allen walking in and around the destroyed al-Shifa hospital in Gaza on 14 April 2024 (Images UNFPA, pls credit @UN FPA)


Audio Files 1
Download Gaza: Destruction of hospitals - UNFPA (Edited Story)
Download

Similar Stories

Ukraine attacks - UNHCR 25 April 2025

1

1

1

Edited News | UNHCR

Ukraine attacks - UNHCR 25 April 2025 ENG FRA

Ongoing Russian attacks in Ukraine force frontline areas to empty: UNHCR

With Ukrainian cities still reeling from this week’s deadly Russian missile and drone attacks, communities on the front line continue to be targeted too, the UN refugee agency, UNHCR, said on Friday. “We also see attacks on frontline regions increasing and it's, as always, civilians that are bearing the highest cost of the war,” said Karolina Lindholm Billing, UNHCR Representative in Ukraine. 

 

Ethiopia update - WFP

1

1

1

Edited News | WFP

Ethiopia update - WFP ENG FRA

Funding and supply shortfalls for the UN World Food Programme (WFP)'s work in Ethiopia will halt lifesaving treatment for 650,000 malnourished women and children at the end of the month. “We are at the breaking point,” it said on Tuesday. 

Human Rights Spokesperson Thameen Al Kheetan on continued Israeli military operations in Lebanon

1

1

1

Edited News | OHCHR , UNOG

Human Rights Spokesperson Thameen Al Kheetan on continued Israeli military operations in Lebanon ENG FRA

Israeli military operations in Lebanon continue to kill and injure civilians, and destroy civilian infrastructure, raising concerns regarding the protection of civilians, the UN Human Rights Office warned today.

Sudan crisis update IOM - UN Women - UNDP

1

1

1

Edited News | IOM , UNWOMEN , UNDP

Sudan crisis update IOM - UN Women - UNDP ENG FRA

Sudan: Aid teams report massive displacement after latest Darfur atrocity; women’s bodies ‘turned into battlegrounds’

In Sudan’s North Darfur, tens of thousands of people have fled a displacement camp following the massacre of civilians and aid workers as the country enters the third year of a conflict marked by horrific levels of sexual violence, UN humanitarians said on Tuesday.

Tariff uncertainty and potential   ITC

1

1

1

Edited News | ITC

Tariff uncertainty and potential ITC ENG FRA

Global trade could shrink by three per cent as a result of the United States’ new tariff measures which in the longer term could reshape and boost as-yet untapped regional commercial links, a top UN economist confirmed on Friday.

UN Human Rights spokesperson Ravina Shamdasani on Sudan

1

1

1

Edited News | OHCHR , UNOG

UN Human Rights spokesperson Ravina Shamdasani on Sudan ENG FRA

Warring parties in Sudan are overseeing a wholesale assault on human rights amid global inaction, the UN Human Rights Office said on Friday, as the conflict is about to enter its third year.

UN Human Rights Briefing  by spokesperson Ravina Shamdasani on OPT

1

1

1

Edited News | OHCHR , UNOG

UN Human Rights Briefing by spokesperson Ravina Shamdasani on OPT ENG FRA

The UN Human Rights Office on Friday said Israel’s increasing issuance of so-called “evacuation orders” for Palestinians in Gaza have resulted in their forcible transfer.

Two years of war in Sudan – OCHA, OHCHR, UNHCR, UN Women, WFP, WHO

1

1

1

Edited News | OCHA , OHCHR , UNHCR , UNWOMEN , WFP , WHO

Two years of war in Sudan – OCHA, OHCHR, UNHCR, UN Women, WFP, WHO ENG FRA

Two years of war in Sudan have created epic suffering, aid agencies say

Two years since Sudan’s brutal conflict began, UN agencies warned that famine is spreading and civilians of all ages continue to suffer shocking abuse, including rape and gang rape.

Gaza update - UNMAS

1

1

Edited News | UNMAS

Gaza update - UNMAS ENG FRA

In Gaza, ongoing Israeli military operations and the aid blockade have continued to add to daily fears and hardships confronting those in the devastated enclave, the UN Mine Action Service, UNMAS, said on Wednesday.

Myanmar earthquake update - UNDP

1

1

1

Edited News | UNDP

Myanmar earthquake update - UNDP ENG FRA

Dangers grow for Myanmar earthquake survivors, health system 'overwhelmed' - UNDP

In earthquake-shattered central Myanmar people are sleeping in the streets in fear of buildings collapsing, facing early monsoon rains and the risk of waterborne diseases, the UN Development Programme warned on Tuesday.

Myanmar earthquake response   OHCHR, UNHCR, ICRC

1

1

1

Edited News | ICRC , OHCHR , UNHCR

Myanmar earthquake response OHCHR, UNHCR, ICRC ENG FRA

Myanmar’s military has continued to launch airstrikes and other attacks against opposition forces in the devastated country, one week since a 7.7 magnitude earthquake struck and despite announcing a ceasefire, UN human rights chief Volker Türk said on Friday.

UN Deputy High Commissioner for Human Rights Nada Al-Nashif on DRC at Human Rights Council

1

1

1

Edited News | OHCHR

UN Deputy High Commissioner for Human Rights Nada Al-Nashif on DRC at Human Rights Council ENG

UN Deputy High Commissioner for Human Rights Nada Al-Nashif on Tuesday presented a report on the human rights situation in the Democratic Republic of Congo, detailing the continued violations of human rights as a result of the offensive launched by the Rwandan-backed M23 in eastern DRC.