The Interventional Radiology Department at Gaza’s Al-Shifa Hospital has reopened following extensive renovation work carried out by the Humanitarian Relief Foundation (IHH), which continues to provide humanitarian and health care assistance in the besieged territory.
IHH said in a statement that health centers and hospitals are among the facilities most severely affected by Israel’s ongoing attacks in Gaza, with more than 1,000 attacks on health facilities recorded since October 2023.
The foundation said deteriorating living conditions in areas where Palestinians have been forced to relocate have significantly increased the risk of disease outbreaks.
High population density, inadequate water and sewage services, waste accumulation, rodent and ectoparasite infestations, restricted access to health care, and shortages in sanitation and hygiene are contributing to worsening health and environmental conditions, it said.
Tens of thousands of people, most of them children, are facing difficult conditions due to chickenpox and other infectious diseases, according to the statement.
Thousands of cancer and dialysis patients are also awaiting medical evacuation, while shortages of health care facilities and restrictions on the entry of medical supplies are preventing them from accessing urgently needed treatment, IHH said.
The foundation also warned of increased health risks as winter approaches, saying rainfall and flooding could carry sewage and contaminated water into densely populated areas and contribute to the spread of disease.
Renovated department expected to serve up to 8,000 patients monthly
IHH said it carried out extensive renovation work on Al-Shifa Hospital’s Interventional Radiology Department, which was heavily damaged during Israel’s attacks, with support from its donors.
The department has begun accepting patients following the completion of the renovation work.
It is expected to provide health care services to between 6,000 and 8,000 patients and injured people each month, including cases requiring emergency surgical intervention, according to IHH.
The foundation said its humanitarian efforts in Gaza cover various areas in addition to health care.
