Gazan lives at risk if siege continues

As millions around the world mark April 7th as World Health Day, the health situation in Gaza continues to worsen as the joint Israeli-Egyptian siege of Gaza continues in its eight year.

Gaza Strip Ministry of Health spokesman Ashraf al-Qidra told Ma'an that there are hundreds of patients in the besieged coastal enclave who require immediate treatment abroad and whose lives will be at risk if the siege continues amid the increasing need for medical supplies.

The Gaza Strip has been under severe blockade by Israel on three sides and Egypt on one side since 2007.

The blockade has severely limited the imports and exports of the Gaza Strip, leading to frequent humanitarian crises and hardship for Gazans.

The secretary of the Ministry Yusif Abu al-Reesh called for the necessity to raise awareness of both health concerns and food security that arise specifically among "the difficulties suffered in Gaza Strip and the continued siege."

The head of the World Health Organization's Gaza branch, Mahmoud Daher, said that maintenance of health safety faces serious obstacles due to the Israeli siege.