Gaza patients suffer from shortage of medicine after Israeli war

Hospitals and clinics in Gaza continue to struggle with a shortage of medicine and surgical supplies, more than a month after Israel’s onslaught on the besieged enclave, Press TV reports.

Hamas Health Ministry spokesman Ashraf al-Qudra warned of a health crisis in Gaza if medical supplies were not delivered to the hospitals in the besieged strip, saying that some “650 types of medicines and hospital supplies are not available in our storage facilities as a direct result of the 8-day Israeli war [on Gaza].”

Palestinian doctors say the situation is especially dangerous for patients with chronic diseases who require constant treatment.

Meanwhile, human rights activists have called for stronger international action against the Israeli regime to pressure it into lifting its illegal blockade on the improvised sliver.

“People in Gaza suffer from this siege, especially after the Israel military operation on Gaza. I would like to ask our governments and European institutions to act in order to lift this siege,” said Rosa Schiano, an Italian activist in Gaza.

Over 160 Palestinians, including many women and children, were killed and about 1,200 others were injured in the Israeli attacks on Gaza during November 14 to 21.

The recent Israeli war on Gaza was Tel Aviv’s second in four years. The Israeli regime waged a 22-day war on the densely-populated Palestinian enclave in 2008, killing more than 1,400 Palestinians, including at least 300 children.

Gaza has been blockaded since June 2007, a situation that has caused a decline in the standard of living, unprecedented levels of unemployment, and unrelenting poverty.