Latest news with #Gargavanis
Scoop
3 days ago
- Health
- Scoop
More Gazans Killed Trying To Get Food, Healthcare Near To ‘Full Disaster'
17 June 2025 'We are walking the fine grey line between operational capacity and full disaster, every day, ' said Dr Thanos Gargavanis, WHO trauma surgeon and emergency officer, speaking from the enclave. The veteran UN medic's comments came amid new reports on Tuesday morning that more Palestinians had been killed trying to access food, this time near an aid distribution site in Khan Younis in southern Gaza. The mass casualty event left 'hundreds of casualties, completely overwhelming Nasser Medical Complex' in Khan Younis, said WHO's Representative in the occupied Palestinian territory, Dr Rik Peeperkorn. No-go zone Across Gaza today, health services are 'barely available' and difficult to access, Dr Peeperkorn said, since more than 80 per cent of Gaza's territory is under evacuation orders. ' The shrinking humanitarian space makes every health activity way more difficult than the previous day,' Dr Gargavanis added. Nasser Medical Complex is the largest referral hospital in Gaza and the only remaining main hospital in Khan Younis. It is situated within the evacuation zone announced by the Israeli military on 12 June. The nearby Al-Amal Hospital - operated by the Palestinian Red Crescent Society (PRCS) - continues to provide services to patients already there, but it is unable to admit anyone else because of ongoing military operations. 'It is what we call a completely minimal functional hospital,' Dr Peeperkorn said. Deadly impact of fuel shortages Only 17 of Gaza's 36 hospitals are currently partially functional, medical supplies are critically low and no fuel has entered the Strip for more than 100 days. The latest mass casualty event is just the latest involving Gazans trying to access aid amid ongoing severe restrictions placed on the amount of aid allowed into the Strip by Israel. On Monday, more than 200 patients arrived at the Red Cross Field Hospital in Al Mawasi - the highest number received by the facility in a single mass casualty incident. Of that number, 28 patients were reportedly declared dead, WHO's Dr Peeperkorn said. Just one day earlier, on 15 June, the same hospital received at least 170 patients, who reportedly had been trying to access a food distribution site. 'The recent food distribution initiatives by non-UN actors every time result in mass casualty incidents,' WHO's Dr Gargavanis insisted. Private aid plan fallout Since late May, the UN and humanitarian partners have been sidelined in Gaza as a new aid distribution model backed by Israel and the United States began operations under the framework of the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF), which uses private military contractors. The WHO trauma surgeon highlighted a 'constant correlation' between the locations of food distribution spots and the mass casualty incidents in Rafah, in Khan Younis and along the Netzarim corridor. Asked about the type of injuries sustained by those seeking aid, and who is responsible, Dr Gargavanis stressed that WHO is not a forensic agency. 'We're not in a position to clearly identify from the nature of the injury' who has caused it, he said. 'What we can say, though, is that we're talking of gunshot wound injuries, and we're talking of very few incidents of shrapnel injuries.' The UN has repeatedly warned that the new aid distribution system does not meet humanitarian principles of humanity, impartiality, independence and neutrality. The global body has also called for aid restrictions to be lifted. Dr Peeperkorn insisted that the WHO must be facilitated to move supplies into Gaza in a cost-effective manner 'via all possible routes' to prevent further shutdowns of medical services. He said that 33 WHO trucks with supplies are waiting at Al Arish in Egypt to be granted passage into the enclave, with another 15 standing by in the occupied West Bank.
Time of India
3 days ago
- Health
- Time of India
WHO receiving reports of another mass casualty event in Gaza near food site
Geneva: World Health Organization officials said that it had received reports of a mass casualty incident on Tuesday that affected people waiting for food supplies, saying that initial reports point to at least 20 fatalities. "This is again the result of another food distribution initiative," said Thanos Gargavanis, WHO trauma surgeon and emergency officer, without giving further details. Earlier, the territory's health ministry said that Israeli tank shellfire killed at least 51 Palestinians as they awaited aid trucks in Khan Younis in the southern Gaza Strip. The incident was the latest in nearly daily mass deaths of Palestinians who were seeking aid in past weeks, including near sites operated by the U.S.-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation. "There's a constant correlation with the positions of the four announced food distribution sites and the mass casualty incidents," Gargavanis added, saying the trauma injuries in recent days were mostly from gunshot wounds. Half a million people in the Gaza Strip face starvation , a global hunger monitor said last month. Since then Israel, which controls supplies into the enclave, has lifted an 11-week-long total blockade on supplies but aid groups say it is not nearly enough to meet the needs. In the same briefing, Gargavanis said that the WHO was running short of therapeutic supplies to treat malnutrition. "We are running excessively low in therapeutic feeding formulas, and we're trying to rationalize its use," he said.
Observer
4 days ago
- Health
- Observer
WHO receiving reports of another mass casualty event in Gaza near food site
GENEVA: World Health Organization officials said that it had received reports of a mass casualty incident on Tuesday that affected people waiting for food supplies, saying that initial reports point to at least 20 fatalities. "This is again the result of another food distribution initiative," said Thanos Gargavanis, WHO trauma surgeon and emergency officer, without giving further details. Earlier, the territory's health ministry said that Israeli tank shellfire killed at least 51 Palestinians as they awaited aid trucks in Khan Younis in the southern Gaza Strip. The incident was the latest in nearly daily mass deaths of Palestinians who were seeking aid in past weeks, including near sites operated by the U.S.-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation. "There's a constant correlation with the positions of the four announced food distribution sites and the mass casualty incidents," Gargavanis added, saying the trauma injuries in recent days were mostly from gunshot wounds. Half a million people in the Gaza Strip face starvation , a global hunger monitor said last month. Since then Israel, which controls supplies into the enclave, has lifted an 11-week-long total blockade on supplies but aid groups say it is not nearly enough to meet the needs. In the same briefing, Gargavanis said that the WHO was running short of therapeutic supplies to treat malnutrition. "We are running excessively low in therapeutic feeding formulas, and we're trying to rationalize its use," he said.
The Advertiser
4 days ago
- Health
- The Advertiser
Dozens more killed awaiting aid in Gaza
Israeli tank shellfire killed at least 51 Palestinians as they awaited aid trucks in Khan Younis in the southern Gaza Strip, the territory's health ministry said, adding that dozens of others were wounded. And the World Health Organization (WHO) said it had received reports of further 20 also killed while waiting for food supplies. Earlier on Tuesday, medics said residents had seen Israeli tanks firing shells at crowds of desperate Palestinians awaiting aid trucks along the main eastern road in Khan Younis. They said at least 51 people were killed and 200 wounded, with at least 20 of them in critical condition. Witnesses said Israeli tanks fired at least two shells at thousands of people awaiting aid trucks. Nasser Hospital wards were crowded with casualties, and medical staff had to place some on the ground and in corridors due to the lack of space. Later, a WHO trauma surgeon and emergency officer Thanos Gargavanis said there were reports of a second mass casualty: "This is again the result of another food distribution initiative." Israel's military has made no immediate comment on the incident, the latest in nearly daily mass deaths of Palestinians who were seeking aid in past weeks, including near sites operated by the US-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation. "There's a constant correlation with the positions of the four announced food distribution sites and the mass casualty incidents," Gargavanis said, saying the trauma injuries in recent days were mostly from gunshot wounds. Local health officials said at least 23 people were killed by Israeli gunfire on Monday as they approached a GHF aid distribution site in Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip. The GHF stated in a press release late on Monday that it had distributed more than three million meals at its four distribution sites without incident. There was no immediate comment from the Israeli military about Monday's reports of shootings. In previous incidents, it has occasionally acknowledged troops opening fire near aid sites, while blaming militants for provoking the violence. Israel has put responsibility for distributing much of the aid it allows into Gaza into the hands of the GHF, which operates sites in areas guarded by Israeli troops. The United Nations has rejected the plan, saying GHF distribution is inadequate, dangerous and violates humanitarian impartiality principles. The latest bloodshed in the decades-old Israeli-Palestinian conflict was triggered in October 2023, when Palestinian Hamas militants attacked Israel, killing 1200 and taking about 250 hostages, according to Israeli allies. U.S. ally Israel's subsequent military assault on Gaza has killed nearly 55,000 Palestinians, according to Gaza's health ministry, while internally displacing nearly Gaza's entire population and causing a hunger crisis. Half a million people in the Gaza Strip face starvation, a global hunger monitor said last month. The escalation is taking place as Palestinians in the Gaza Strip watch the exchange of attacks between Israel and Iran, which began with Israel launching major strikes on Friday. Residents of the Gaza Strip have circulated images of wrecked buildings and charred vehicles hit by Iranian missiles in Israeli cities, and some were hopeful the wider conflict could eventually bring peace to their ruined homeland. "We live these scenes and pain daily. We are very happy that we saw the day when we saw rubble in Tel Aviv, and they are trying to get out from under the rubble and the houses that were destroyed on top of their residents," said Gaza man Saad Saad. Others said Iran's response was greater than many, including Israel, had expected. "We saw how Iran ... lost patience and the time has come for Iran to teach the Israeli occupation state a lesson," said another Gaza man, Taysseir Mohaissan. With Israel saying its operation could last weeks, fears have grown of a regional war dragging in outside powers. Israeli tank shellfire killed at least 51 Palestinians as they awaited aid trucks in Khan Younis in the southern Gaza Strip, the territory's health ministry said, adding that dozens of others were wounded. And the World Health Organization (WHO) said it had received reports of further 20 also killed while waiting for food supplies. Earlier on Tuesday, medics said residents had seen Israeli tanks firing shells at crowds of desperate Palestinians awaiting aid trucks along the main eastern road in Khan Younis. They said at least 51 people were killed and 200 wounded, with at least 20 of them in critical condition. Witnesses said Israeli tanks fired at least two shells at thousands of people awaiting aid trucks. Nasser Hospital wards were crowded with casualties, and medical staff had to place some on the ground and in corridors due to the lack of space. Later, a WHO trauma surgeon and emergency officer Thanos Gargavanis said there were reports of a second mass casualty: "This is again the result of another food distribution initiative." Israel's military has made no immediate comment on the incident, the latest in nearly daily mass deaths of Palestinians who were seeking aid in past weeks, including near sites operated by the US-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation. "There's a constant correlation with the positions of the four announced food distribution sites and the mass casualty incidents," Gargavanis said, saying the trauma injuries in recent days were mostly from gunshot wounds. Local health officials said at least 23 people were killed by Israeli gunfire on Monday as they approached a GHF aid distribution site in Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip. The GHF stated in a press release late on Monday that it had distributed more than three million meals at its four distribution sites without incident. There was no immediate comment from the Israeli military about Monday's reports of shootings. In previous incidents, it has occasionally acknowledged troops opening fire near aid sites, while blaming militants for provoking the violence. Israel has put responsibility for distributing much of the aid it allows into Gaza into the hands of the GHF, which operates sites in areas guarded by Israeli troops. The United Nations has rejected the plan, saying GHF distribution is inadequate, dangerous and violates humanitarian impartiality principles. The latest bloodshed in the decades-old Israeli-Palestinian conflict was triggered in October 2023, when Palestinian Hamas militants attacked Israel, killing 1200 and taking about 250 hostages, according to Israeli allies. U.S. ally Israel's subsequent military assault on Gaza has killed nearly 55,000 Palestinians, according to Gaza's health ministry, while internally displacing nearly Gaza's entire population and causing a hunger crisis. Half a million people in the Gaza Strip face starvation, a global hunger monitor said last month. The escalation is taking place as Palestinians in the Gaza Strip watch the exchange of attacks between Israel and Iran, which began with Israel launching major strikes on Friday. Residents of the Gaza Strip have circulated images of wrecked buildings and charred vehicles hit by Iranian missiles in Israeli cities, and some were hopeful the wider conflict could eventually bring peace to their ruined homeland. "We live these scenes and pain daily. We are very happy that we saw the day when we saw rubble in Tel Aviv, and they are trying to get out from under the rubble and the houses that were destroyed on top of their residents," said Gaza man Saad Saad. Others said Iran's response was greater than many, including Israel, had expected. "We saw how Iran ... lost patience and the time has come for Iran to teach the Israeli occupation state a lesson," said another Gaza man, Taysseir Mohaissan. With Israel saying its operation could last weeks, fears have grown of a regional war dragging in outside powers. Israeli tank shellfire killed at least 51 Palestinians as they awaited aid trucks in Khan Younis in the southern Gaza Strip, the territory's health ministry said, adding that dozens of others were wounded. And the World Health Organization (WHO) said it had received reports of further 20 also killed while waiting for food supplies. Earlier on Tuesday, medics said residents had seen Israeli tanks firing shells at crowds of desperate Palestinians awaiting aid trucks along the main eastern road in Khan Younis. They said at least 51 people were killed and 200 wounded, with at least 20 of them in critical condition. Witnesses said Israeli tanks fired at least two shells at thousands of people awaiting aid trucks. Nasser Hospital wards were crowded with casualties, and medical staff had to place some on the ground and in corridors due to the lack of space. Later, a WHO trauma surgeon and emergency officer Thanos Gargavanis said there were reports of a second mass casualty: "This is again the result of another food distribution initiative." Israel's military has made no immediate comment on the incident, the latest in nearly daily mass deaths of Palestinians who were seeking aid in past weeks, including near sites operated by the US-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation. "There's a constant correlation with the positions of the four announced food distribution sites and the mass casualty incidents," Gargavanis said, saying the trauma injuries in recent days were mostly from gunshot wounds. Local health officials said at least 23 people were killed by Israeli gunfire on Monday as they approached a GHF aid distribution site in Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip. The GHF stated in a press release late on Monday that it had distributed more than three million meals at its four distribution sites without incident. There was no immediate comment from the Israeli military about Monday's reports of shootings. In previous incidents, it has occasionally acknowledged troops opening fire near aid sites, while blaming militants for provoking the violence. Israel has put responsibility for distributing much of the aid it allows into Gaza into the hands of the GHF, which operates sites in areas guarded by Israeli troops. The United Nations has rejected the plan, saying GHF distribution is inadequate, dangerous and violates humanitarian impartiality principles. The latest bloodshed in the decades-old Israeli-Palestinian conflict was triggered in October 2023, when Palestinian Hamas militants attacked Israel, killing 1200 and taking about 250 hostages, according to Israeli allies. U.S. ally Israel's subsequent military assault on Gaza has killed nearly 55,000 Palestinians, according to Gaza's health ministry, while internally displacing nearly Gaza's entire population and causing a hunger crisis. Half a million people in the Gaza Strip face starvation, a global hunger monitor said last month. The escalation is taking place as Palestinians in the Gaza Strip watch the exchange of attacks between Israel and Iran, which began with Israel launching major strikes on Friday. Residents of the Gaza Strip have circulated images of wrecked buildings and charred vehicles hit by Iranian missiles in Israeli cities, and some were hopeful the wider conflict could eventually bring peace to their ruined homeland. "We live these scenes and pain daily. We are very happy that we saw the day when we saw rubble in Tel Aviv, and they are trying to get out from under the rubble and the houses that were destroyed on top of their residents," said Gaza man Saad Saad. Others said Iran's response was greater than many, including Israel, had expected. "We saw how Iran ... lost patience and the time has come for Iran to teach the Israeli occupation state a lesson," said another Gaza man, Taysseir Mohaissan. With Israel saying its operation could last weeks, fears have grown of a regional war dragging in outside powers. Israeli tank shellfire killed at least 51 Palestinians as they awaited aid trucks in Khan Younis in the southern Gaza Strip, the territory's health ministry said, adding that dozens of others were wounded. And the World Health Organization (WHO) said it had received reports of further 20 also killed while waiting for food supplies. Earlier on Tuesday, medics said residents had seen Israeli tanks firing shells at crowds of desperate Palestinians awaiting aid trucks along the main eastern road in Khan Younis. They said at least 51 people were killed and 200 wounded, with at least 20 of them in critical condition. Witnesses said Israeli tanks fired at least two shells at thousands of people awaiting aid trucks. Nasser Hospital wards were crowded with casualties, and medical staff had to place some on the ground and in corridors due to the lack of space. Later, a WHO trauma surgeon and emergency officer Thanos Gargavanis said there were reports of a second mass casualty: "This is again the result of another food distribution initiative." Israel's military has made no immediate comment on the incident, the latest in nearly daily mass deaths of Palestinians who were seeking aid in past weeks, including near sites operated by the US-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation. "There's a constant correlation with the positions of the four announced food distribution sites and the mass casualty incidents," Gargavanis said, saying the trauma injuries in recent days were mostly from gunshot wounds. Local health officials said at least 23 people were killed by Israeli gunfire on Monday as they approached a GHF aid distribution site in Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip. The GHF stated in a press release late on Monday that it had distributed more than three million meals at its four distribution sites without incident. There was no immediate comment from the Israeli military about Monday's reports of shootings. In previous incidents, it has occasionally acknowledged troops opening fire near aid sites, while blaming militants for provoking the violence. Israel has put responsibility for distributing much of the aid it allows into Gaza into the hands of the GHF, which operates sites in areas guarded by Israeli troops. The United Nations has rejected the plan, saying GHF distribution is inadequate, dangerous and violates humanitarian impartiality principles. The latest bloodshed in the decades-old Israeli-Palestinian conflict was triggered in October 2023, when Palestinian Hamas militants attacked Israel, killing 1200 and taking about 250 hostages, according to Israeli allies. U.S. ally Israel's subsequent military assault on Gaza has killed nearly 55,000 Palestinians, according to Gaza's health ministry, while internally displacing nearly Gaza's entire population and causing a hunger crisis. Half a million people in the Gaza Strip face starvation, a global hunger monitor said last month. The escalation is taking place as Palestinians in the Gaza Strip watch the exchange of attacks between Israel and Iran, which began with Israel launching major strikes on Friday. Residents of the Gaza Strip have circulated images of wrecked buildings and charred vehicles hit by Iranian missiles in Israeli cities, and some were hopeful the wider conflict could eventually bring peace to their ruined homeland. "We live these scenes and pain daily. We are very happy that we saw the day when we saw rubble in Tel Aviv, and they are trying to get out from under the rubble and the houses that were destroyed on top of their residents," said Gaza man Saad Saad. Others said Iran's response was greater than many, including Israel, had expected. "We saw how Iran ... lost patience and the time has come for Iran to teach the Israeli occupation state a lesson," said another Gaza man, Taysseir Mohaissan. With Israel saying its operation could last weeks, fears have grown of a regional war dragging in outside powers.
Perth Now
4 days ago
- Health
- Perth Now
Dozens more killed awaiting aid in Gaza
Israeli tank shellfire killed at least 51 Palestinians as they awaited aid trucks in Khan Younis in the southern Gaza Strip, the territory's health ministry said, adding that dozens of others were wounded. And the World Health Organization (WHO) said it had received reports of further 20 also killed while waiting for food supplies. Earlier on Tuesday, medics said residents had seen Israeli tanks firing shells at crowds of desperate Palestinians awaiting aid trucks along the main eastern road in Khan Younis. They said at least 51 people were killed and 200 wounded, with at least 20 of them in critical condition. Witnesses said Israeli tanks fired at least two shells at thousands of people awaiting aid trucks. Nasser Hospital wards were crowded with casualties, and medical staff had to place some on the ground and in corridors due to the lack of space. Later, a WHO trauma surgeon and emergency officer Thanos Gargavanis said there were reports of a second mass casualty: "This is again the result of another food distribution initiative." Israel's military has made no immediate comment on the incident, the latest in nearly daily mass deaths of Palestinians who were seeking aid in past weeks, including near sites operated by the US-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation. "There's a constant correlation with the positions of the four announced food distribution sites and the mass casualty incidents," Gargavanis said, saying the trauma injuries in recent days were mostly from gunshot wounds. Local health officials said at least 23 people were killed by Israeli gunfire on Monday as they approached a GHF aid distribution site in Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip. The GHF stated in a press release late on Monday that it had distributed more than three million meals at its four distribution sites without incident. There was no immediate comment from the Israeli military about Monday's reports of shootings. In previous incidents, it has occasionally acknowledged troops opening fire near aid sites, while blaming militants for provoking the violence. Israel has put responsibility for distributing much of the aid it allows into Gaza into the hands of the GHF, which operates sites in areas guarded by Israeli troops. The United Nations has rejected the plan, saying GHF distribution is inadequate, dangerous and violates humanitarian impartiality principles. The latest bloodshed in the decades-old Israeli-Palestinian conflict was triggered in October 2023, when Palestinian Hamas militants attacked Israel, killing 1200 and taking about 250 hostages, according to Israeli allies. U.S. ally Israel's subsequent military assault on Gaza has killed nearly 55,000 Palestinians, according to Gaza's health ministry, while internally displacing nearly Gaza's entire population and causing a hunger crisis. Half a million people in the Gaza Strip face starvation, a global hunger monitor said last month. The escalation is taking place as Palestinians in the Gaza Strip watch the exchange of attacks between Israel and Iran, which began with Israel launching major strikes on Friday. Residents of the Gaza Strip have circulated images of wrecked buildings and charred vehicles hit by Iranian missiles in Israeli cities, and some were hopeful the wider conflict could eventually bring peace to their ruined homeland. "We live these scenes and pain daily. We are very happy that we saw the day when we saw rubble in Tel Aviv, and they are trying to get out from under the rubble and the houses that were destroyed on top of their residents," said Gaza man Saad Saad. Others said Iran's response was greater than many, including Israel, had expected. "We saw how Iran ... lost patience and the time has come for Iran to teach the Israeli occupation state a lesson," said another Gaza man, Taysseir Mohaissan. With Israel saying its operation could last weeks, fears have grown of a regional war dragging in outside powers.
