GAZA — About 1,500 people have lost their vision due to injuries sustained during the Israeli assault, while an additional 4,000 are at imminent risk of blindness as a result of a severe shortage of essential medications and surgical supplies as Israel continues bombing Gaza and blocking the flow of humanitarian aid.
The Palestinian Ministry of Health in Gaza issued a statement on Sunday, warning of a severe escalation in the public health crisis affecting ophthalmic services due to the ongoing war.
Dr. Abdel-Salam Sabah, Director of the Gaza Eye Hospital, issued the following urgent updates:
- The healthcare sector is experiencing a critical shortage of ophthalmic surgical supplies and equipment, placing eye surgery services on the brink of collapse—particularly procedures related to retinal conditions, diabetic retinopathy, and internal eye hemorrhages.
- The Eye Hospital currently has only three heavily worn surgical scissors, which are being reused multiple times. This severely compromises patient safety and hinders the provision of safe and effective medical care.
- A significant number of blast-related eye injuries require specialized medical materials—such as Healon and microsurgical sutures—which are now nearly depleted.
Without immediate international assistance, the hospital may be forced to announce a total suspension of surgical services, Dr. Sabah said, emphasizing the urgent need for intervention from relevant authorities and humanitarian organizations.
Since March 2, Israel has closed Gaza’s main crossings, halting the flow of food, medical aid, and other humanitarian supplies. This blockade has caused a severe and unprecedented decline in living conditions, with human rights organizations accusing Israel of using starvation as a weapon of war against Palestinians.
Israel has also resumed its assault on Gaza on March 18, killing over 2,700 and wounding at least 7,400 people, raising the death toll from the genocide since October 2023 to more than 52,800.
C. QNN
