On June 25, the World Health Organization (WHO) delivered its first medical aid shipment into Gaza since the total blockade began on March 2. The convoy, which consisted of nine truckloads, marks a critical step in addressing severe shortages across the territory.
WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus announced via X that the delivery included 2,000 units of blood and 1,500 units of plasma. Supplies rolled in through the Kerem Shalom crossing with Israel without any looting incidents despite high-risk conditions along the route.
The blood and plasma were transferred to Nasser Medical Complex's cold storage for distribution to hospitals facing critical shortages. Additional WHO trucks remain at Kerem Shalom, with more en route to Gaza.
“This is only a drop in the ocean,” Tedros said, calling for the immediate, unimpeded, and sustained delivery of health aid through all possible routes to save lives at scale.
Meanwhile, the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) reported more than 19,000 cases of acute watery diarrhea in the past two weeks, alongside outbreaks of acute jaundice syndrome and bloody diarrhea. These spikes are linked to a lack of clean water and sanitation, underscoring the urgent need for fuel, medical supplies, and water, sanitation, and hygiene items to prevent further collapse of the public health system.
The WHO's breakthrough delivery highlights both the resilience of aid workers and the massive scale of need. For young global citizens, business innovators, and changemakers, this moment underscores how data-driven insights and collective advocacy can drive real-world impact and build solidarity across borders.
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
