'A drop in the ocean': WHO delivers first medical aid to Gaza since March 2

The World Health Organization (WHO) said on Thursday that it had delivered its first medical shipment into Gaza since March 2, adding that the nine truckloads were "a drop in the ocean."

The June 25 shipment of supplies, plasma and blood will be distributed among hospitals in the Palestinian territory in the coming days, WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said on X.

Israel imposed a total blockade on the Gaza Strip on March 2. More than two months later, it began allowing some food in, but no other aid items until now.

Tedros said nine trucks carrying essential medical supplies, 2,000 units of blood and 1,500 units of plasma were delivered via the Kerem Shalom crossing with Israel, "without any looting incident, despite the high-risk conditions along the route."

"These supplies will be distributed to priority hospitals in the coming days," Tedros said.

"The blood and plasma were delivered to Nasser Medical Complex's cold storage facility for onward distribution to hospitals facing critical shortages, amid a growing influx of injuries, many linked to incidents at food distribution sites."

Tedros added that four WHO trucks were still at Kerem Shalom and more were on their way towards Gaza.

"However, these medical supplies are only a drop in the ocean. Aid at scale is essential to save lives," he said.

"WHO calls for the immediate, unimpeded and sustained delivery of health aid into Gaza through all possible routes."

On the same day, the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) reported that in the last two weeks, more than 19,000 cases of acute watery diarrhea were recorded, alongside over 200 cases each of acute jaundice syndrome and bloody diarrhea.

"These outbreaks are directly linked to the lack of clean water and sanitation in Gaza, underscoring the urgent need for fuel, medical supplies, and water, sanitation and hygiene items to prevent further collapse of the public health system," OCHA said.

OCHA emphasized that to meet humanitarian needs and help reduce looting, it is essential to increase the flow of humanitarian and essential commercial goods into Gaza through multiple crossings and routes and to facilitate their safe distribution across the strip.

(With input from agencies)