World Health Organization (WHO) Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus on Thursday hailed the ceasefire deal between Israel and Hamas as “a big step toward lasting peace,” pledging that the agency stands ready to scale up health assistance in Gaza.
Tedros said the WHO is prepared to expand efforts to address Gaza’s dire health situation and to help rebuild the territory’s devastated healthcare system.
The ceasefire comes as Gaza continues to face catastrophic conditions after nearly three years of war. According to Gaza’s Health Ministry, more than 67,000 Palestinians have been killed and nearly 170,000 wounded, with over 40,000 suffering life-altering injuries. Thousands more remain buried under the rubble.
The conflict has displaced nearly the entire population of 2.1 million people. Eight out of ten homes have been damaged or destroyed, and large swathes of cropland and urban centers have been razed. UN data indicates that at least 102,000 buildings have been flattened, leaving most residents without shelter.
The ongoing humanitarian crisis has been compounded by severe food shortages. Aid organizations report that at least 30 percent of Gazans go days without eating, while over 400 people — including more than 100 children — have died from complications of malnutrition.
The war has also devastated Gaza’s healthcare system, with hospitals reduced to rubble and medical workers operating under extreme conditions. The WHO says the prevalence of explosive-related injuries in Gaza now mirrors that seen among combat forces in Iraq and Afghanistan.
As the ceasefire takes effect, Tedros reaffirmed the WHO’s commitment to restoring essential health services and supporting Gaza’s recovery, stressing that the health of civilians must remain at the center of any lasting peace.
Tedros said the WHO is prepared to expand efforts to address Gaza’s dire health situation and to help rebuild the territory’s devastated healthcare system.
The ceasefire comes as Gaza continues to face catastrophic conditions after nearly three years of war. According to Gaza’s Health Ministry, more than 67,000 Palestinians have been killed and nearly 170,000 wounded, with over 40,000 suffering life-altering injuries. Thousands more remain buried under the rubble.
The conflict has displaced nearly the entire population of 2.1 million people. Eight out of ten homes have been damaged or destroyed, and large swathes of cropland and urban centers have been razed. UN data indicates that at least 102,000 buildings have been flattened, leaving most residents without shelter.
The ongoing humanitarian crisis has been compounded by severe food shortages. Aid organizations report that at least 30 percent of Gazans go days without eating, while over 400 people — including more than 100 children — have died from complications of malnutrition.
The war has also devastated Gaza’s healthcare system, with hospitals reduced to rubble and medical workers operating under extreme conditions. The WHO says the prevalence of explosive-related injuries in Gaza now mirrors that seen among combat forces in Iraq and Afghanistan.
As the ceasefire takes effect, Tedros reaffirmed the WHO’s commitment to restoring essential health services and supporting Gaza’s recovery, stressing that the health of civilians must remain at the center of any lasting peace.
