WHO in occupied Palestinian territory

Official Twitter account of the World Health Organization office in the occupied Palestinian territory.

[WHO in occupied Palestinian territory @WHOoPt]

More than 42,000 people in #Gaza are living with life-altering injuries after two years of conflict, straining limited services and creating immense long-term physical rehabilitation needs.

With support from @CanadaDev, @WHO is strengthening physical rehabilitation capacity in Gaza. As part of this effort, WHO has been supporting NORWAC in deploying specialized international Emergency Medical Teams at Al-Shifa Hospital.

Since November 2025, the EMTs have delivered 602 physical rehabilitation treatment sessions, providing surge support to boost service availability while simultaneously training local health workers to strengthen long-term capacity.

This approach ensures immediate support for patients today, while investing in the sustainable rehabilitation capacity Gaza's health system will need for years to come.

[WHO in occupied Palestinian territory @WHOoPt]

.@WHO thanks @ROJ_Palestine 🇯🇵 for its support, which has been vital in the establishment of the Al-Tayyab Clinic in North Gaza, ensuring improved access to healthcare for communities in need.

[Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus @DrTedros]

.@WHO has supported the establishment of a new primary health care clinic in northern Gaza, where extremely limited health services have left most of the community without access to care.

The clinic brings services directly to where communities are living. It will deliver essential health services, including noncommunicable disease management, maternal and child health services, routine vaccination, wound care, and basic physical rehabilitation, alongside referrals for cases requiring higher-level care.

Health needs across Gaza remain immense. To move beyond immediate lifesaving response and begin restoring health services at scale, @WHO calls for the protection of health care, essential medicines and supplies to be allowed into Gaza without delay, removal of bureaucratic barriers and access restrictions on globally recognised essential medicines, expedited entry of spare parts for medical equipment and generators.

[WHO in occupied Palestinian territory @WHOoPt]

Under the leadership of the Ministry of Health, with support from the @WorldBank, @WHO has supported the delivery of essential medicines to 24 health facilities in #Gaza, keeping lifesaving health services running across emergency and surgical care, intensive care, oncology, infectious disease management, cardiovascular care, and other noncommunicable disease services.

This support has strengthened emergency response capacity and reduced the risk of treatment disruptions, stock-outs, and complications from delayed care. Yet health needs remain immense.

WHO continues to expand its support to bolstering lifesaving services in Gaza, but requires a conducive environment. We reiterate our asks:
- protection of health care.
- ⁠essential medicines and supplies to be allowed into Gaza without delay.
- ⁠removal of bureaucratic barriers and access restrictions on globally recognized essential medicines.
- expedited entry of spare parts for medical equipment and generators.

[HananBalkhyحنان بلخي @HananBalkhy]

I am deeply concerned by what health and humanitarian partners are reporting in Gaza’s displacement sites.

A rapid assessment across more than 1,600 sites found that 80% have frequent, visible rodent and pest presence, affecting 1.45 million people. Over 80% reported skin infections, including scabies, lice and bedbugs, with more than 70,000 cases recorded so far in 2026.

This is unfortunately the predictable consequence of a collapsed living environment.

Families are living in overcrowded tents and makeshift shelters, surrounded by waste and debris, with limited access to safe water and sanitation services.

We need laboratory supplies to enter #Gaza without delay, rubble removed, and water and sanitation systems restored.

After losing their homes, their safety, and access to care, people in #Gaza should not be left to live in these conditions. Protecting health also means protecting dignity.

[WHO in occupied Palestinian territory @WHOoPt]

Deeply grateful to @ROJ_Palestine 🇯🇵 for their generous support to @WHO 's health response in #Gaza.

Over the past two years, Japan's USD 10M contribution has been critical in keeping health facilities functioning and sustaining care for 1.6 million people across some of the most difficult conditions imaginable — from trauma care and safe deliveries to child nutrition and mental health services.

Here is what we achieved together:
🏥200k people reached with essential medicines.
🩻 15k+ patients supported with emergency surgery.
💉500k patients supported to continue chronic disease treatment.
⚕️500k patients reached with mental health services.
🤱 50k+ pregnant women supported with obstetric supplies.
👩114k women reached with reproductive health and GBV services.
🛍️8k+ dignity kits containing hygiene and sanitary supplies distributed to displaced women and girls.
🧒15,570+ children treated for acute malnutrition.
👩‍⚕️367 health workers trained on critical care protocols.

[WHO in occupied Palestinian territory @WHOoPt]

With appreciation to the #UAE Government for its continued support to health needs in the oPt, @WHO, through @MBRInitiatives, is distributing critical maternal and child health supplies to neonatal and maternal departments across health facilities in Gaza.

These include 20,000 baby caps and blankets, 1,500 Kangaroo Mother Care (KMC) wraps to help protect newborns from hypothermia, and 50,000 thermal (survival) blankets for neonatal, maternal, pediatric and adult patients.

In addition, with support from @MBRInitiatives, WHO has provided 50 pediatric beds to expand Severe Acute Malnutrition (SAM) stabilization centres and increase hospital capacity to care for children with severe malnutrition.

WHO remains committed to addressing essential health needs and ensuring access to health services for people across the oPt.

[HananBalkhyحنان بلخي @HananBalkhy]

Our latest report from @WHOoPt shows how WHO and partners sustained health services across the occupied Palestinian territory in 2025 under extraordinary pressure:

• 100+ health facilities supported and $60 million in essential supplies delivered.
• 2,714 Gazan patients evacuated for specialized care abroad.
• In Gaza: 1.8 million+ consultations enabled through Emergency Medical Teams and 10.7 million litres of fuel distributed through the inter-agency mechanism to sustain health operations.
• In the West Bank: 1.2 million consultations supported.

At the same time, disease surveillance was strengthened, vaccination campaigns reached hundreds of thousands of children, and trauma, maternal and mental health services were maintained.

The operating environment in Gaza remains highly challenging and complex. Access constraints, insecurity and supply shortages continued to disrupt service delivery and limit the reach of lifesaving care. WHO and partners remain committed to supporting the delivery of essential care every day.

@WHO continues to call for sustained humanitarian access in the occupied Palestinian territory, including into and across #Gaza, and for the protection of civilians, health workers and health facilities.

Read the full report:
🔗 https://t.co/gu9Kf0iXMd

[WHO in occupied Palestinian territory @WHOoPt]

قد تُستأنف عمليات الإجلاء الطبي من غزة، التي تقودها وزارة الصحة، في 12 نيسان/أبريل، وذلك بعد أن علّقت منظمة الصحة العالمية دعمها لعمليات الإجلاء الطبي عقب حادث أمني أدى إلى مقتل شخص متعاقد لتقديم خدمات للمنظمة في غزة. ومع تلقي تعهدات من الجهات المعنية بضمان سلامة المرضى والطواقم، تقف منظمة الصحة العالمية على أهبة الاستعداد لاستئناف دعمها لعمليات الإجلاء الطبي.

تُقرّ منظمة الصحة العالمية بأن بعض المنشورات على وسائل التواصل الاجتماعي تثير مخاوف بشأن كيفية تنفيذ عمليات الإجلاء الطبي، وتتعامل المنظمة مع هذه المخاوف بجدية، وهي بصدد النظر في الأمر.

يقتصر دور منظمة الصحة العالمية في عمليات الإجلاء الطبي التي تقودها وزارة الصحة على تقديم الدعم، ويشمل ذلك التنسيق والدعم اللوجستي، وذلك بالتعاون الوثيق مع مختلف الجهات المعنية والشركاء في القطاع الصحي، لضمان نقل المرضى بأمان وكرامة وبشكل منظم من غزة إلى المعبر.

ولا تشارك منظمة الصحة العالمية أو موظفوها في تحديد أولوية المرضى المصرح لهم بمغادرة غزة للإجلاء الطبي، كما لا تمارس أي تأثير على هذه العملية.

https://t.co/kXGUfgKnYQ

[WHO in occupied Palestinian territory @WHOoPt]

MoH-led medical evacuations from Gaza may resume on 12 April, after @WHO had to suspend its support, following a security incident in which a person contracted to provide services to WHO in Gaza was killed. With commitments now received from relevant parties to ensure the safety of patients and staff, WHO stands ready to resume its support to medical evacuation.

WHO acknowledges that some social media posts raise concerns about how medical evacuations are conducted. WHO takes all such concerns seriously and is looking into the matter.

WHO's role in the MoH-led medical evacuations is strictly supportive, limited to coordination and logistical support, carried out in close collaboration with various stakeholders and health partners, to ensure the safe, dignified, and orderly transfer of patients from Gaza to the crossing. 

WHO or its staff are not involved in, and have no influence over, the prioritization of patients approved to exit Gaza for medical evacuation.

https://t.co/kXGUfgKnYQ

[Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus @DrTedros]

The Gaza Strip is halfway through a 5 day catch-up vaccination campaign targeting children under 3 years old who missed routine vaccines during 2.5 years of conflict.

Despite difficult weather conditions, 146 teams are working to deliver life-saving vaccines through fixed health facilities and mobile outreach to those unable to access services.

Led by the Palestinian Ministry of Health and supported by @WHO, @UNICEF, @UNRWA, donors and partners, this campaign reflects the power of sustained collaboration in safeguarding children from vaccine preventable diseases, even in the most challenging circumstances.

At the same time, WHO is supporting efforts to strengthen the health system to enhance the overall sustainability of services, including year-round availability of routine vaccinations, and reinforcing surveillance systems to ensure diseases can be detected and responded to early.

[Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus @DrTedros]

.@WHO is devastated to confirm that a person contracted to provide services to the Organization in Gaza was killed today during a security incident. 

Two WHO staff members were present but were not injured.

We extend our condolences to the family, loved ones, and colleagues of the deceased. 

The incident is under investigation by the relevant authorities.

Following the incident, WHO suspended today's medical evacuation of patients from Gaza via Rafah to Egypt. Medical evacuations will remain suspended until further notice.

We are deeply grateful to our colleagues who work day and night despite the risks to ensure that the people of Gaza can access the health care they need.

We call for the protection of civilians and humanitarian workers. Peace is the best medicine.

[WHO in occupied Palestinian territory @WHOoPt]

"I can't emphasize enough how hard it is to operate and provide good healthcare with such limited resources. It is incredibly, incredibly difficult."

In this episode of the Frontline Shift, @WHO's podcast, we discuss what it has taken to keep primary health care going in #Gaza under relentless pressure.

Listen 👂
Spotify 👉https://t.co/Op0BsnvgoL
Apple Podcasts👉https://t.co/VfiEJlCVrP
YouTube 👉https://t.co/enZjoycHpV

[WHO in occupied Palestinian territory @WHOoPt]

Under the leadership of the Ministry of Health and with support from @EU_ECHO, @WHO has provided 6⃣ key hospitals in the #WestBank with essential medical supplies to strengthen their preparedness for mass casualty incidents and surges in medical emergencies, while also supporting the treatment of other patients in need of special care such as neonates and patients suffering from chronic illnesses.

The supplies are sufficient to support the treatment of over 112,000 patients and will serve a dual purpose: sustaining day-to-day clinical care and building emergency stockpiles of trauma and surgical supplies for when they are needed most.

This is part of WHO's broader effort to enhance hospital capacity to respond to mass casualty incidents, complementing the Mass Casualty Management training that is due to be rolled out soon for around 100 health workers across the six hospitals in the West Bank.

[WHO in occupied Palestinian territory @WHOoPt]

Under the leadership of the Ministry of Health, and with support from @eu_echo, @WHO has launched preparations for the second phase of its Mass Casualty Management (MCM) training in the #WestBank.

7⃣health workers have completed initial online training and will soon undertake face-to-face sessions to qualify as trainers, enabling them to roll out MCM training to other health workers in their own hospitals and cities.

Around 1⃣0⃣0⃣health workers across 6⃣ key hospitals in the West Bank will be trained.

This builds on a first phase delivered in 2023, which trained 61 health personnel working in emergency departments across Ministry of Health hospitals.

MCM training prepares health workers, hospital staff and health facilities to respond effectively when a large number of casualties overwhelm normal capacity. It equips teams with the skills to triage patients rapidly, coordinate across facilities, manage resources under pressure and activate standardized mass casualty response plans.

With the trauma burden increasing across the West Bank due to settler violence and ongoing military operations, standardized protocols in place is not a contingency, it is a necessity.

[WHO in occupied Palestinian territory @WHOoPt]

Under the leadership of Ministry of Health, @WHO, in partnership with @PalestineRCS and with support from @EU_ECHO, is establishing 3⃣ Trauma Stabilization Points (TSPs) in the #WestBank.

Sites for the TSPs have been identified in Duma town in Nablus and in Atara and Khirbet Abu Falah villages near Ramallah - communities that have reportedly seen a rise in trauma injuries due to settler violence and where checkpoint closures and road restrictions frequently delay ambulance access.

TSPs serve as interim emergency care points between the site of injury and a fully equipped hospital, providing immediate, life-saving interventions including wound care, bleeding control, airway management and stabilization, keeping patients alive until they can be transferred to higher-level care.

WHO is providing essential medical supplies and equipment to ensure these sites become operational as soon as possible, including examination beds, vital signs monitoring devices, wound dressings, splints, IV fluids, first aid kits covering a range of injury scenarios, including burns, fractures, inhalation injuries and massive hemorrhage.

WHO calls for unimpeded access to health care across the occupied Palestinian territory and for the protection healthcare.