The medicine crisis is devastating the bodies of displaced patients in Gaza

Amidst the cramped tents, the suffering of displaced people in Khan Younis, southern Gaza Strip, extends beyond the lack of food and water to include their basic right to medical treatment, turning chronic illnesses and injuries into a slow death sentence.

The pinnacle of this tragedy is embodied in the story of Raed al-Muridi, who lies in a dilapidated tent, his emaciated body ravaged by severe seizures for which there is no treatment.

Al-Muridi struggles to swallow food and water normally, causing him to lose a significant amount of weight. His wife recounts her ordeal in searching for medication to alleviate her husband’s pain, especially after he and others lost access to vital nerve medications.

She bitterly describes his condition, saying, “His situation worsens day by day due to the lack of treatment.” She watches helplessly as the medications that once controlled his health are completely unavailable.

The journey of the wife and the like of her relatives of patients in Gaza often ends in front of empty shelves in pharmacies, which sometimes forces pharmacists to direct patients towards inaccurate alternatives or to return to doctors to try to find treatment formulas close to what is missing.

From a medical standpoint, Dr. Ahmed Abu Taha, head of the Endocrinology Department at Nasser Medical Complex, confirms that the cessation of primary healthcare centers’ distribution of chronic medications has increased the burden on patients and exposed them to serious complications.

Official statistics issued by the Ministry of Health point to a genuine catastrophe; 46% of essential medications (approximately 285 types) are completely unavailable in the sector, while 66% of necessary medical supplies have run out, rendering hospitals and medical centers unable to provide even the most basic services.