New York, United States - July 15, 2024

An officer of the United Nations (UN) described the scene at Nasser Hospital in Khan Yunis following Israeli strikes on July 13, saying the air was filled with the smell of blood.

The Israeli military attacked the Mawasi area of Khan Younis in the southern Gaza Strip on Saturday, a place designated by the Israeli side as a "security zone" and gathering a large number of displaced people. The attacks killed at least 90 people and injured about 300 others.

Scott Anderson, deputy humanitarian coordinator for the Occupied Palestinian Territory of the UN, said at a press conference via video link on Monday that the local health facility was overstretched and lacked basic medical facilities and medical supplies.

After the bombing of the Mawasi area, Nasser Hospital was overwhelmed with the wounded, many of them women and children with severe injuries and facing paralysis or amputations. Anderson said what he saw at the hospital was "some of the most terrific scenes he has seen" in the nine months since he's been in Gaza.

Speaking to wounded people in the hospital, Anderson learned that a family had traveled around the Gaza Strip in search of a so-called "safe zone", but ultimately could not avoid attacks. He also saw many parents in the hospital looking for their lost children. Anderson said no one in Gaza is safe and called for a ceasefire and an end to the conflict as soon as possible.

Shotlist:
UN headquarters, New York City - July 15, 2024:
1. Press conference in progress;
2. Scott Anderson, deputy humanitarian coordinator for Occupied Palestinian Territory of United Nations, speaking via video link;
Khan Younis, Gaza Strip - July 14, 2024
3. People in Nasser hospital;
4. Sign on wall indicative of Israeli army's full control over hospital;
5. Sign reading "Nursing Station";
6. Various of injured men lying on sick beds;
UN headquarters, New York City - July 15, 2024
7. SOUNDBITE (English) Scott Anderson, deputy humanitarian coordinator, Occupied Palestinian Territory, United Nations:
"The air was filled with the smell of blood, and one health worker was mopping up pools of blood on the floor, using only water because there aren't sufficient supplies of disinfectant material or other cleaning supplies to stop the spread of infection. There are not enough beds, hygiene supplies, sheeting, mattresses or scrubs. Many patients were treated on the ground or on waiting room benches without disinfectant, and this puts even treatable injuries at risk of sepsis and much more significant complications. Our ventilator systems were not working due to electrical problems. As I walked through the hospital and talked to families and children, we saw toddlers who were double amputees, children paralyzed and unable to receive treatment because they don't have the equipment at the hospital.";
Khan Younis, Gaza Strip - July 9-11, 2024
8. Various of people rushing wounded people to hospital;
UN headquarters, New York City - July 15, 2024
9. SOUNDBITE (English) Scott Anderson, deputy humanitarian coordinator, Occupied Palestinian Territory, United Nations (ending with shot 10):
"One mother I talked to told me that she was told to move to Rafah because it would be 'safe' there. Then she was told to move to Mawasi because it would be 'safe' there. Unfortunately for her and her family, that was not true. I think the words of this mother are a reminder that nowhere is safe in Gaza, no one is safe in Gaza. What's urgently needed is a complete ceasefire for all parties to the conflict to protect the civilians wherever they are, especially UN schools and hospitals.";
Khan Younis, Gaza Strip - July 13, 2024
10. Various of people clearing, moving debris;
11. Various of debris.

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