Key Points
Following eight days of violence in Gaza from November 14-21, a cease-fire was declared effective 9:00 pm, November 21, 2012. The latest cumulative casualty figures reported by the Ministry of Health (MoH) in Gaza are (as of November 26, 2012; 2:00 pm):
--175 persons killed (151 males; 24 females) of whom 43 (25%) are children; 16 children were less than 5 years old. The total includes 5 persons who had later died of their injuries. --1399 persons injured, of whom 431 (34%) are children and 141 are less than 5 years old. (Earlier MoH data with gender disaggregation was based on uncorrected figures of 1404 injured (994 males; 410 females).
MoH estimated that 50% of injured persons treated in emergency rooms were admitted to hospital as inpatients. MoH hospitals in Gaza are still treating injured patients, including 27 persons in intensive care units. The MoH reported on November 20 --- before inventory could be made of emergency donations --- that 192 (of 478) essential drug list items were at zero stock and 102 additional items were in short stock, sufficient for less than 3 months. Of the 902 items on the medical disposable list, 535 were at zero stock and 90 were in short supply. The cost of only filling this gap and resupplying the 294 drugs and 625 disposables at zero or low stock is approximately $2.5 million for one month.
10 health facilities were damaged: the Jordanian field hospital in Gaza city suffered extensive damage, and the Palestine Red Crescent Society EMS station behind al Quds Hospital was slightly damaged. MoH Beit Hanoun Hospital and the MoH European Gaza Hospital suffered minimal collateral damage. Also 4 primary care centers, the Central Archive of the MoH and the Department of the Medical Commission) were damaged. 6 ambulances suffered collateral damage, injuring four ambulance workers.
WHO is participating in a UN multi-sectoral initial rapid assessment (health, education, water and sanitation, and protection) with WHO leading the health sector assessment of the impact of the attacks on emergency needs.
Results will be communicated by OCHA within one week. WHO is conducting an in depth assessment of the impact on health systems and population health, coordinating with members of the health sector.
WHO has appealed to the international community for support in providing $10 million in needed essential medical supplies by coordinating donations according to specifications of the MoH in Gaza.