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GENEVA: The World Health Organisation on Tuesday called for an immediate halt to hostilities in Gaza and urged Israel to ensure that medical supplies are channelled to those hit by the military action.
"Civilians are paying the price for the prolonged blockade. As a top priority, the shortages of essential and life-saving medicines need to be abated without delay," said the WHO in a statement.
At least 363 Palestinians, including 39 children, have been killed and 1,720 people wounded in intensive bombardment by Israel on Islamist Hamas targets in the Gaza Strip.
"The inability of the hospitals to cope with a problem of this magnitude, if the situation continues unchanged, will result in a surge in preventable deaths from complications due to trauma," warned the WHO.
Negotiations were ongoing with the Israelis to funnel medical supplies through, the WHO added as it urged an end to the conflict.
"WHO reiterates its call for the immediate discontinuation of the current violence and the removal of blockades so that much-needed food, water, fuel, medicines and other humanitarian aid can reach those in need," it said.
The International Committee of the Red Cross also said in a statement that it was "extremely concerned about civilians" caught up in the hostilities.
"We have nowhere to hide," it cited a staff member who lives in Gaza as saying.
"We gather the children in the living room and sleep there on mattresses. We have to leave the windows open so that the glass won't break when bombs hit nearby."
An ICRC spokesman told AFP that a flight carrying 10 tonnes of medical aid supplies would depart from Geneva on Tuesday.
Six trucks were sent into Gaza on Tuesday carrying medication, spare parts for ambulances and for medical equipment, said the ICRC.
A surgical team was also expected to arrive "in the coming days."
Israel has so far shunned world appeals for a truce, as it massed forces on the Gaza border on Tuesday and warned that its deadly assault on Hamas could last for weeks. - AFP/de
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