An air corridor for humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip will be opened

The regional head of the World Health Organization (WHO) told the AFP news agency on Monday that the Gaza Strip had only one day of water, electricity and fuel left.

If aid is not allowed into the besieged area, doctors will have to prepare death certificates for their patients, Ahmed al-Mandhari, director of the WHO’s Eastern Mediterranean region, told AFP in an interview.

Monday marked 10 days since Israel launched an unrelenting airstrike on targets in the Palestinian enclave in retaliation for an October 7 attack by Gaza-ruled Hamas that killed 1,400 people, mostly civilians, in Israel.

According to A. al Mandhari, the Gaza Strip is approaching a real catastrophe.

The Hamas-controlled health ministry said about 2,750 people were killed in the area, 9,700 were injured, and a million people were forced to flee their homes, according to the UN.

Power outages can paralyze life-support systems, from seawater desalination plants to food refrigeration and hospital incubators.

Local residents say it is almost impossible to perform even daily functions such as going to the toilet, showering and washing clothes.

Because rescuers are extremely busy, doctors are working 24 hours a day, and there is a severe lack of space, it is not possible to properly care for the victims, Al Mandhari said.

Overcrowding has paralyzed hospitals, he said, with intensive care units, operating rooms, emergency rooms and other departments on the brink of collapse.

Israel’s Energy Minister Israel Katz said on Sunday that water supplies to the southern Gaza Strip had been restored, a week after Israel declared a full enclave and cut off water, electricity and fuel to the territory it wants to crush Hamas.

The United Nations human rights chief has said that international law prohibits depriving civilians of the necessities of life.

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**Interview with Ahmed al-Mandhari,‌ Director of the WHO’s Eastern Mediterranean Region**

**Interviewer:** Thank you‍ for joining us today, Dr. al-Mandhari. The​ situation in‌ Gaza ‌sounds dire.⁢ Can ⁣you⁣ explain what you mean when you⁤ say that the area is approaching a real catastrophe?

**Dr. al-Mandhari:** ‌Thank you for having me. The Gaza Strip is facing an unprecedented humanitarian crisis. We have just ‌one⁤ day’s supply⁤ of water, electricity,⁤ and fuel remaining. If aid ⁢is not‍ allowed into ⁣the region soon, the‍ health ⁤consequences will be catastrophic. Medical ⁢personnel may soon have to prepare death certificates ⁢for patients who⁤ would otherwise be⁢ saved ⁣with adequate‍ resources.

**Interviewer:** Can you provide‍ a brief update on the casualties and injuries reported?

**Dr. al-Mandhari:** Yes, according​ to the Hamas-controlled⁢ health⁢ ministry, ⁣approximately 2,750​ people have been killed, and around 9,700 ⁣have sustained injuries. The situation is further compounded by the displacement of over a⁤ million individuals, who are struggling with little access to ‌basic necessities.

**Interviewer:** What actions are ⁢the WHO and ‍other humanitarian organizations​ taking to address the crisis in Gaza?

**Dr. al-Mandhari:** Our priority ​is‍ to advocate ‍for the ⁢safe⁤ and unrestricted delivery of humanitarian aid ‌to Gaza. We are working tirelessly to coordinate ⁣efforts⁣ among various agencies and urge all parties to honor ceasefires to allow humanitarian access. The health of ‌the population is at ​significant risk, and without ⁤immediate action, we expect⁢ the consequences to ⁢worsen ‍significantly.

**Interviewer:** With escalating conflict and loss of life, ⁢what message do‌ you feel is ‌important‍ to⁤ convey to the international ‌community?

**Dr.‌ al-Mandhari:** The international community must recognize the urgency of this situation. We are calling for immediate humanitarian assistance and‍ a cessation of ⁣hostilities that have led to such widespread suffering. Every day without aid results in more lives⁢ lost, and we​ must⁢ come together to protect the most vulnerable.

**Interviewer:** Thank you so much for your ‌insights, Dr.‌ al-Mandhari. It’s⁢ a sobering reminder of the impact of conflict on healthcare and civilian lives.

**Dr.‍ al-Mandhari:** ​Thank you for bringing attention to this ​critical issue. It is essential that we continue to ⁤advocate for peace and humanitarian support.