The people of Gaza receive “irreplaceable health services” in UNRWA clinics despite the shortages and challenges

Muhammad Arab and his family were displaced due to war conditions from Gaza City to Al-Zawaida in central Gaza. He came carrying his son to the clinic located in Nuseirat refugee camp in order to obtain “Better health service”As he told our correspondent in Gaza, who visited the UNRWA health center.

Muhammad said: “The service in UNRWA clinics is difficult or rarely found in any other medical point. They follow infection prevention measures and protect people from diseases. Although there are medical points that may be closer to us, there is better service here.”.

When UN News met Mohammed and his son, the center was crowded with people who came seeking medical services provided by UNRWA, in light of an ongoing health crisis caused by the war’s effects over more than two years.

The agency reported in its latest update that only half of the hospitals and less than half of the primary health care centers are currently partially functioning, and they face a shortage of basic medical equipment and supplies. Only four of the 22 UNRWA health clinics that operated before the war are currently operating, in addition to four temporary health centers.

Deficiency affects everyone

Many people in the Gaza Strip suffer from this shortage, whether in supplies or medicines, including Umm Jasser, who came to the UNRWA health center in Nuseirat.

Umm Jaser is also displaced from Beit Hanoun in the northern Gaza Strip, and her exodus journey took her to central Gaza. Umm Jaser suffers from chronic diseases, but she does not receive sufficient amounts of medication.

She told us: “There are no painkillers. They only give us one or two pills because of the shortage that everyone suffers from, and here (at the center) they want to help all people.”.

added: “During the war we suffered a lot. Now my psychological state is unstable because I did not find the medicine I need, which forces me to buy it.”.

There is no substitute for UNRWA services

UNRWA has not stopped providing health services in Gaza, providing more than 16 million health consultations since the start of the war.

During the second half of December 2025 alone, UNRWA examined 5,073 children between the ages of 6 and 59 months in its health centers and medical points, in addition to organizing 2,833 immunization sessions in health centers and medical points between 5 and 11 January 2026.

UNRWA health teams provided 5,446 medical consultations to postpartum women and pregnant women at high risk during the same period.

As of January 11, 2026, UNRWA provided health services through 95 mobile medical teams working in 29 medical points inside and outside shelter centers in the central region, Khan Yunis, Al-Mawasi, and Gaza City.

These services the displaced person, Muhammad Arab, hopes to provide “Always be available”.

He added: “We send a message that UNRWA services should not be reduced, not only at the health sector level, but in all areas of life such as education, employment, and population support. If these services stop, we will not find an alternative with the same efficiency and quality that UNRWA provides.”.