30 The Independent Commission for Human Rights - ICHR health condition. In spite of Israel’s claim of having allowed dozens of serious cases to cross to Israeli hospitals, between 25 and 30 May 2021, access was allowed for only 13 out of 191 patients, who submitted applications to the Israeli occupying authorities through the MoH Coordination and Liaison Office.29 Closure of the Beit Hanun (Erez) crossing had serious reflections on the health condition of Gazan patients, who had patient referrals for treatment abroad and prescheduled appointments with hospitals. It also gravely impacted patients’ health, possibly leading to death. In particular, medical referrals involved patients with serious conditions, which brook no delay. Foremost among these were patients with cancer. These included some 8,700 cancer patients, who were supposed to receive or continue treatment in hospitals outside Gaza. Suffering from deteriorated health condition, these patients were in need of regular chemical and radioactive therapy. The lives of dozens of cancer patients were put at risk because they were not able to travel and continue their treatment.30 1.1.4.3 Shortage in the list of essential medicines and medical missions Extreme shortages continued to affect medicines and medical missions at major medical centres and hospitals in Gaza, particularly emergency sections, operating rooms, and intensive care units (ICUs). Many items were needed to save the lives of people injured over the course of the Israeli aggression on Gaza. The list of essential medicines ran short of more than 256 out of 516 items. A total of 285 items were lacking in the list of medical missions, negatively impacting health services provided to injured persons. The crisis was aggravated as emergency sections, operating rooms, and ICUs were affected by serious shortages of drugs necessary to save the lives of hundreds of people These shortfalls exacerbated patients’ health conditions and put their lives at risk. Compared to 32 percent at emergency and operating rooms, blood and cancer wards were affected by a capacity gap of 53 percent. This compounded the suffering of patents and their ability to afford the price of medicines as well as extra costs against the backdrop of a worsening economic situation. Shortage of essential medicines and medical supplies also debilitated the MoH capacity to respond to the COVID-19 outbreak throughout the Gaza Strip.31 Out of 149, 47 items were in short supply at emergency sections and ICUs. Of 309 items, 73 medical missions were at zero stock. The short supply of medicines had grave consequences on, and seriously threatened, the lives of patients and injured people in Gaza. Of these, patients with phenylketonuria need therapeutic milk, the lack of which causes mental retardation. Orthopaedic sections also saw a shortage of essential medical missions. Representing 16 percent, 24 out of 151 items were at zero stock level. Orthopaedic surgeons were obstructed by short stabilisers, including internal fixation with plates and screws, so they had to split available items in surgical procedures. Surgery sections were further affected by short tranquilisers following orthopaedic surgeries, as well as antibiotics and medical solutions needed to sanitise wounds, particularly on limbs to avoid severe infections. 1.1.4.4 Obstruction of the movement of ambulances The targeting of infrastructure and main roads obstructed movement and limited access for civilians and civilian vehicles to hospitals and medical centres to receive treatment or save the lives of injured people. It impeded the movement and access for ambulances to main hospitals and health 29 30 31 PCHR, The health situation during the military aggression on the Gaza Strip in May 2021, Gaza, May 2021. PCHR, A cancer patient loses his life as a result of a ban on travel abroad: Israel continues to prevent patients from traveling for treatment outside Gaza, 2 June 2021. PCHR, The health situation during the military aggression on the Gaza Strip in May 2021, Gaza, May 2021. The Situation of Human Rights in Palestine