Palestine refugees in Gaza are facing unprecedented health challenges due to the ongoing conflict, as highlighted in the UNRWA Annual Health Report. Despite losing over 188 staff members, including 11 health care professionals, to the conflict, healthcare workers have remained committed to providing quality services to their patients. In 2023, UNRWA focused on providing healthcare to its 300,000 patients with non-communicable diseases, developmental care for 350,000 children under five, and safe delivery for 70,000 pregnant mothers. More than half of the 5.97 million registered Palestine refugees rely heavily on UNRWA health services.
The hostilities in Gaza made basic healthcare inaccessible and led to new health crises such as war injuries, internal displacement, mental health issues, destruction of sanitation infrastructure and potential epidemics and famine. To address these challenges, UNRWA opened emergency shelters and mobile medical units in Gaza and implemented surveillance for disease outbreaks while coordinating the shipment of medical supplies through the Rafah crossing. In the West Bank, movement restrictions forced UNRWA to find temporary solutions to ensure the uninterrupted delivery of medical supplies and services to patients and healthcare workers.