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Published : 22 Oct 2025, 11:13 PM
Gaza is facing a health "catastrophe" that will last for "generations to come”, the World Health Organization (WHO) Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus has warned.
Speaking to BBC Radio 4’s Today programme, he said a massive surge in humanitarian aid is essential to meet the complex and growing needs of the people in the war-torn enclave.
Since the ceasefire took effect on Oct 10, Israel has allowed limited medical supplies and aid to enter Gaza.
But Tedros said the amount is “far from enough” to rebuild the Strip’s collapsed healthcare system.
His warning comes as the United States works to consolidate the ceasefire it brokered, described by the White House as the first stage of a 20-point peace plan.
The plan calls for an expansion of aid deliveries to Gaza and its distribution “without interference” from either side.
Tedros said he welcomed the agreement but noted that aid levels since the deal have risen far less than expected.
When asked about conditions on the ground, he described a desperate situation: “Gazans had experienced famine, overwhelming injuries, a collapsed healthcare system, and outbreaks of disease fuelled by the destruction of water and sanitation infrastructure.”
He added: "On top of that, [there is] restricted access to humanitarian aid. This is a very fatal combination, so that makes [the situation] catastrophic and beyond words."
Asked about the long-term health outlook, he said: “If you take the famine and combine it with a mental health problem which we see is rampant, then the situation is a crisis for generations to come.”
AID DELIVERY
Tedros called on Israel not to use aid as a bargaining tool, saying: “All living hostages have been returned, many of the dead have been handed over -- there is no justification for placing conditions on aid.”
Israel temporarily halted aid deliveries on Oct 7 after two Israeli soldiers were killed in a Hamas attack, resuming the following day under international pressure.
Currently, only the Kerem Shalom and Kissufim crossings are open. Tedros said all crossings must be opened to meet needs, noting that only 200–300 trucks enter Gaza daily, while at least 600 are required.
He added that supplies needed to rebuild Gaza’s health system are being held at the border because Israeli authorities fear “dual use”. “If you are going to build a field hospital, you need the canvas and the pillars. If the pillars are removed because of dual-use concerns, then you can't have a tent,” he said.
MEDICAL EVACUATIONS
Thousands of Palestinians are waiting for weekly medical evacuation flights, but none have operated for two weeks due to holidays in Israel.
Tedros said 700 people have died while waiting and called for more flights.
US ROLE
On the US role, he said Washington must ensure all parties respect the ceasefire. The UN estimates Gaza reconstruction will cost $70 billion, with at least 10 percent required to rebuild the healthcare system.
Tedros added: “We have been saying for a long time that peace is the best medicine. The ceasefire we have is fragile, and some people have died even after it because it was broken.
"What is very sad is many people were cheering in the streets because they were very happy there was a peace deal. Imagine, [some of] those same people are dead after they were told the war is over."
