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3w ago

Gaza Hospitals Face Collapse as Israeli Blockade Deepens Burn Care Crisis

Three months into Israel's blockade, Gaza's health system is overwhelmed by surging burn cases, critical supply shortages, and rising malnutrition-related complications.

Iman Abu Shabab, 30, stands next to her 7-year-old son, Hamza, who lies in bed with third-degree burns caused when, frightened by an Israeli airstrike, he spilled a hot plate of rice and lentils on himself in the family's tent in southern Gaza last month, at Nasser hospital in Khan Younis, Gaza Strip, Sunday, May 4, 2025.(AP Photo/Abdel Kareem Hana)
Haneen al-Khazandar cares for her 10-year-old daughter Mira who was severely burned on her arms and chest when an Israeli army strike hit near her tent, in Khan Younis, Gaza Strip, Sunday, May 4, 2025.(AP Photo/Abdel Kareem Hana)
Raika Abu Sahloul, 40, cares for her 4-year-old niece, Layan, as she sits despondently among her dolls at Nasser hospital with second-degree burns on her face, foot, and stomach, caused a week earlier during an Israeli army strike on her home in Khan Younis that killed her pregnant mother and two siblings and buried her under the rubble, in Khan Younis, Gaza Strip, Sunday, May 4, 2025.(AP Photo/Abdel Kareem Hana)
Layan Ibrahim Sahloul, 4, sits despondently among her dolls at Nasser hospital with second-degree burns on her face, foot, and stomach, caused a week earlier during an Israeli army strike on her home in Khan Younis that killed her pregnant mother and two siblings and buried her under the rubble, in Khan Younis, Gaza Strip, Sunday, May 4, 2025.(AP Photo/Abdel Kareem Hana)

Overview

  • Israel's blockade, in place since March 2, has halted all imports of medicine, food, and fuel, leaving Gaza's hospitals critically under-resourced.
  • Burn cases at Gaza's Nasser Hospital have increased fivefold since mid-March, with severe burns now covering up to 40% of patients' bodies.
  • Malnutrition, exacerbated by the blockade, is slowing recovery and increasing infection risks for burn victims, particularly children.
  • Doctors report a lack of essential medical supplies, including painkillers, dressings, and antibiotics, with some burn patients dying from infections or airway complications.
  • The United Nations warns Gaza's healthcare system is nearing collapse, while international medical staff face growing entry restrictions, hindering long-term care options for patients.