Summary: Since hostilities escalated in Gaza in October 2023, the local health system has faced immense strain, marked by significant infrastructure destruction, shortages of medical supplies, and severely restricted access to healthcare for the affected population. In response, the World Health Organization (WHO) and Gaza health authorities activated the Emergency Medical Teams (EMT) mechanism, establishing an EMT Coordination Cell (EMTCC) to facilitate international deployment. By the end of 2024, 51 EMTs, including 918 international and 242 national staff, were deployed across Gaza, addressing urgent needs in trauma care, surgery, maternal and child health, non-communicable diseases, mental health, and outbreak surveillance. These teams delivered over 2.2 million consultations, nearly 37,000 emergency surgeries, and more than 14,000 referrals. National EMTs play a vital role in ensuring rapid, locally adapted responses during crises. In 2021, two National EMTs were established in Gaza as core components of emergency preparedness. By September 2024, Gaza National EMT #1 resumed operations, significantly contributing to the reopening of the Shifa Medical Complex, which was severely damaged during a two-week siege in April 2024. Key priorities for the team included pharmacy supply tracking, mass casualty management planning, and improved infection control standards. In February 2025, Gaza National EMT #2 was launched in the south, providing specialized surgical care in orthopedics, neurosurgery, and gynecology, with integrated rehabilitation and pain management services.
Luca Pigozzi (Sun,) studied this question.