Gaza healthcare professionals forced to operate from tents

The ongoing conflict in the Gaza Strip has severely impacted medical infrastructure, forcing healthcare professionals like dentist Dr. Rizq Sufyan Abo Halima to operate out of makeshift tents. After his previous clinics were destroyed by Israeli military actions, Dr. Abo Halima has been forced to conduct emergency dental procedures in an alleyway tent in Gaza City’s al-Nasr neighbourhood.

Extreme heat and frequent electricity shortages further complicate medical care. The scarcity of functional buildings is driven by widespread destruction; according to the United Nations Satellite Centre (UNOSAT), more than four in five buildings in Gaza City and northern Gaza have been completely destroyed or severely damaged.

Additionally, a ban on building materials has made repairs nearly impossible, leading to a shortage of usable commercial and residential spaces. This has caused property costs to surge, with some rental prices doubling, making it unaffordable for local professionals to secure permanent offices.