The United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) has sounded the alarm over the total collapse of Gaza’s healthcare system, saying it poses a grave threat to the entire population—particularly the elderly and other vulnerable groups. In a statement posted on X (formerly Twitter), UNRWA warned that the 2.3 million residents of Gaza now face the terrifying reality of falling ill with nowhere to turn.
“Falling ill means facing it alone without ambulances, shortage of medical supply or support,” the agency stated. The humanitarian crisis, already severe due to months of war, has now deepened with the disintegration of critical services.
Healthcare workers in Gaza have long been sounding the alarm, but the latest update from the UN confirms that hospitals are either non-functional or operating in emergency conditions with no electricity, medicine, or clean water. With infrastructure destroyed and supply lines blocked, patients face deadly delays and lack of treatment.
Elderly at Greatest Risk Amid War and Disease
The statement by UNRWA put special emphasis on the heightened risk to elderly Palestinians. Already vulnerable due to chronic illnesses and limited mobility, Gaza’s senior citizens are now essentially trapped in a systemless zone, unable to access care or medication.
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“Elderly people are particularly vulnerable when health systems collapse,” UNRWA stated. Many older residents of Gaza are living without family support, mobility aids, or medicine. With no ambulances, even reaching a clinic is nearly impossible.
In #Gaza, the collapse of healthcare is putting all lives at risk. But older people are especially vulnerable.
Falling ill means facing it alone, without ambulances, shortage of medical supply or support.
A permanent #ceasefire and an end to the siege are essential to protect… pic.twitter.com/6g3kTRcaN2
— UNRWA (@UNRWA) June 30, 2025
Reports from local aid groups paint a grim picture. Many elderly Gazans are dying from treatable conditions like infections, dehydration, or unmanaged diabetes—conditions that would be easily manageable under normal circumstances. Aid workers say they often find older residents lying helpless in bombed-out buildings or makeshift shelters, too weak to even call for help.
This humanitarian breakdown is not just a tragedy—it’s a violation of international law, say rights groups. Under the Geneva Conventions, warring parties are obligated to ensure access to healthcare for civilians. The collapse of Gaza’s health services amounts to a systemic denial of that right.
UN Repeats Call for Permanent Ceasefire
UNRWA reiterated its urgent plea for a permanent ceasefire, arguing that humanitarian aid alone cannot resolve the health emergency. “Only a permanent ceasefire will allow meaningful protection and recovery,” the agency posted.
As the war drags on, temporary truces and aid corridors have failed to stabilize the situation. Hospitals remain under siege, and UN facilities—once safe zones—are now overwhelmed or damaged. Health experts warn that unless the fighting stops and full-scale medical assistance is allowed in, Gaza could face mass casualties from preventable causes.
International pressure is building. Aid groups and human rights organizations across the world are calling for unrestricted access to Gaza and immediate action to restore healthcare services.
But so far, political will seems far behind the humanitarian need. And for Gaza’s elderly, the consequences of continued inaction may be nothing short of catastrophic.
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