Geneva: In a devastating assessment, a team from the World Health Organization (WHO) and other United Nations agencies has referred to the emergency department at Al-Shifa hospital in northern Gaza as a "bloodbath" and in urgent need of resuscitation. The hospital, the largest in the Palestinian territory, has been severely affected by Israeli bombardments.

The WHO team delivered medical supplies to Al-Shifa hospital on Saturday, revealing that tens of thousands of displaced people are using the hospital building and grounds for shelter. The situation is dire, with a severe shortage of drinking water and food.

The emergency department was described as a "bloodbath," with hundreds of injured patients and new arrivals every minute. Patients with trauma injuries are being treated on the floor, and there is a lack of pain management. Operating theatres are non-functional due to a shortage of oxygen and supplies.

The hospital is operating at a minimal scale with few staff, and critical patients are being transferred to Al-Ahli Arab Hospital for surgeries. The WHO team emphasized that Al-Shifa hospital needs immediate resuscitation to provide essential services.

Currently, only 30 patients can receive dialysis daily, and all health infrastructure in the Gaza Strip has been significantly impacted by Israeli military actions. The WHO pledged to reinforce Al-Shifa hospital in the coming weeks to enable the resumption of basic services. Concerns were also raised about other hospitals in the region, highlighting the urgent need for humanitarian support amid the ongoing conflict.