Gaza: MSF opens second field hospital in Deir Al Balah

Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF), an international, independent, medical humanitarian organisation says it has opened a second field hospital in Deir Al Balah and has begun outpatient consultations.

The organisation stated this on its official X handle @MSF.

The post reads: “As Israeli forces continue to bomb Gaza, the health system is on its knees. Today, we opened a second field hospital in Deir Al Balah and have begun outpatient consultations. The expansion of other services depends on Israeli authorities, who have delayed supplies entering Gaza.

“The new field hospital is only needed due to the destruction of the healthcare system. The best way to provide care to people is to protect and support the existing facilities while allowing safe access to them.”

MSF noted that as 19 out of 36 hospitals in Gaza are currently non-functional, field hospitals are the last resort to provide lifesaving care. “An immediate and permanent ceasefire is the only solution to provide people in Gaza with the proper healthcare they so desperately need.

“Since the start of the war, we have had to leave 14 health structures, including hospitals, due to evacuation orders by Israeli authorities, fighting in the surrounding areas, or direct attacks.”

As so-called humanitarian zones have been repeatedly bombed by Israeli forces, MSF said the protection of “these field hospitals as well as the last remaining hospitals across Gaza must be ensured.”