WHO and UNRWA Warn of Gaza Health System Collapse

The World Health Organization and the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) warned of a catastrophic humanitarian collapse in Gaza during ministerial meetings at the United Nations General Assembly in New York on September 24, 2026.

WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus reported that Gaza's health system is under extreme strain, with none of the 36 hospitals fully functioning and only 19 partially operational. He noted that over 1,700 health workers have been killed since 2023 and called for the restoration of patient referral pathways to East Jerusalem and the West Bank.

Simultaneously, the Commissioner-General of UNRWA detailed a severe financial crisis, reporting a 100 million dollar cashflow deficit for 2026. This shortfall has forced the agency to cut local staff salaries and reduce service-delivery hours by 20%. The agency reported that 94% of people in Gaza lack proper shelter and 90% lack access to clean water.

Both organizations emphasized that restrictions on humanitarian NGOs and the seizure of UNRWA infrastructure in East Jerusalem are undermining life-saving assistance. While UNRWA noted it has implemented over 80% of neutrality recommendations from an independent review, it urged member states for robust political and financial support to sustain essential services.