Azra Hoosen | ah@radioislam.co.za
4 October 2024 | 11:00 CAT
2 min read

As the first anniversary of the Israeli war on Gaza approaches on October 7th, the death toll has risen to over 41,500, with more than 96,000 wounded. The ongoing slaughter has devastated Gaza’s healthcare system, leaving 17 out of 36 hospitals only partially functional due to repeated attacks, exacerbating the already limited medical supplies.

Doctors Without Borders (MSF) is urging for a sustained ceasefire and an end to the destruction of healthcare facilities and civilian infrastructure. MSF’s Camren McAravey emphasised the need for immediate humanitarian intervention to prevent further loss of life.

Speaking to Radio Islam, McAravey emphasised that there is “no safe zone” in Gaza.

“The human toll is huge, in addition to the number of people killed/injured, there are over 10,000 people missing or buried in the rubble and 90% of the population of the strip has been repeatedly displaced over the past year. Even designated safe zones have been repeatedly bombed by Israel,” she said.

She emphasised that even medical and humanitarian aid workers are not safe, with at least 296 aid workers having been killed since the war began, including 6 of her colleagues from MSF.

She stressed that the situation in Gaza is truly as dire as reports have indicated, with severe risks to both civilians and those trying to provide critical humanitarian assistance.

“MSF teams have witnessed repeated attacks, not just on healthcare facilities but raids on hospitals, sieges and destruction of medical infrastructure and equipment. Most of Gaza’s health system has been completely decimated, most of the Gaza strip has been destroyed,” she added.

McAravey highlighted that the medical needs in Gaza are “skyrocketing,” with 100,000 people wounded and only a few hospitals available to provide care. Thousands of people require complex surgeries and long-term medical care, both of which are completely inaccessible in Gaza. In addition to physical injuries, over 1 million children are now in need of mental health and psychosocial support, reflecting the deep and sustained psychological trauma faced by the population. Moreover, the war has led to the resurgence of diseases such as Polio, as well as skin and diarrheal diseases, which are spreading rapidly in the area due to the collapse of healthcare services.

“When you see a complete absence of healthcare infrastructure, you see all of these things coming up within the system,” she said.

McAravey criticised the portrayal in the media of aid operations in Gaza, stating that the Israeli authorities have created a misleading narrative, giving the impression that there are “safe zones” and minimal basic services available to civilians in certain areas. She stressed that this is pure propaganda and far from reality, and it only puts civilians at greater risk by suggesting they can find safety or assistance where none truly exists.

“There is a narrative out there that it isn’t “as bad as we are seeing it to be” that is quite a challenge for us. By doing this, Israel is able to maintain their presence in the strip, which is obviously not what we want to see,” she said.

She expressed deep frustration that we are one year in but there is no end to this.

“How long can we expect people to hold off and continue to support where needed? This is the tragedy. We need an immediate and sustained ceasefire. How many more innocent lives need to be lost before this happens?” she questioned.

LISTEN to the full interview with Ml Habib Bobat and MSF’s Camren McAravey, here.