News - Middle East: The World Health Organization has warned that hospitals in the city of Rafah in southern Gaza urgently need medical supplies and fuel.

The warning came after the UN health agency said Israel had denied delivery of fuel to the area on Wednesday. The hospitals only have fuel to operate for the next two to three days.

“WHO has pre-positioned some supplies in warehouses and hospitals, but without more aid flowing into Gaza, we cannot sustain our life-saving support to hospitals,” said WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.

WHO also said Abu Yousef Al-Najjar Hospital in Rafah was already no longer functional, one of three hospitals in the city. Some equipment has been moved to field hospitals.
WHO spokesperson Margaret Harris also confirmed the entry of humanitarian and medical supplies to Gaza has “stopped completely.” She warned the outbreak of diseases could become a “death sentence” for malnourished children across Gaza.

“We, as humans, must not let this continue. Please, please have a ceasefire now,” Harris said.

The International Committee of the Red Cross says the group will be unable to carry out its operations in Gaza if the military operation in Rafah continues.
Hundreds of thousands of Palestinians have sought refuge in the south of the Gaza Strip since early October.
People are also pouring into central Gaza by the thousands, mainly to Deir el-Balah, after Israel’s seizure of the vital Rafah crossing on the border with Egypt.