Locations
The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) is gravely concerned by the strike by Israeli forces on 13 April of Al Ahli Hospital, one of Gaza’s few remaining main hospitals. The strike severely damaged this critical healthcare facility, putting it out of service, and jeopardizing the lives of thousands of Palestinians.
UNDP’s Programme of Assistance to the Palestinian People (PAPP) has worked hard to significantly enhance Al Ahli Hospital’s operational capacity, through the Emergency Support to Health Facilities project, implemented in cooperation with national and international partners.
This hard work to expand the hospital’s intensive care units and operating rooms, and to recruit and deploy 109 medical personnel to strengthen vital healthcare services, is now in jeopardy. Preliminary assessments conducted by UNDP-PAPP teams indicate extensive destruction to the hospital’s essential facilities, including the emergency room, laboratory, emergency X-ray machines, and pharmacy. This damage has interrupted critical medical services and has left the hospital unable to admit new in-patients until necessary repairs and assessments are conducted.
UNDP strongly emphasizes the importance of protecting healthcare facilities and personnel as mandated under international humanitarian law. We join UN sister agencies calling for the immediate cessation of attacks on healthcare infrastructure and for the protection of patients and medical workers.
The situation on the ground in Gaza is catastrophic.
As the UN Secretary-General has underlined, over the past month and a half “not a drop of aid” has been allowed to enter Gaza, which has left communities with virtually no access to medical care, essential services, and life-saving support.
In these challenging circumstances, UNDP reiterates the UN Secretary-General’s consistent call for the unconditional release of all hostages, a permanent ceasefire, and full humanitarian access.
We reaffirm our unwavering commitment to supporting the Palestinian people and affected communities—advancing both emergency response efforts and early recovery and resilience initiatives.
