International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) Director-General Pierre Krähenbühl has described conditions in the Gaza Strip as “hell on earth,” warning that Palestinians continue to endure a deepening humanitarian catastrophe amid the destruction of healthcare facilities, widespread displacement and severe shortages of essential supplies.

Speaking to Al Jazeera on the sidelines of the Global Security Forum in Doha, Krähenbühl called on the international community to fulfill its responsibilities toward Gaza’s population, stressing the urgent need to facilitate medical evacuations for patients who cannot receive adequate treatment inside the besieged enclave.

Palestinian families continue to struggle to survive in displacement tents, facing inadequate access to medical care and clean water while living under persistent fears for their safety and future, he said.

Krähenbühl also highlighted the anguish of families who remain unable to determine the fate of missing relatives believed to be buried beneath the rubble of destroyed buildings, underscoring the devastating human toll of the destruction across Gaza.

He urged the international community to respond more effectively to the population’s mounting humanitarian needs.

Krähenbühl said the ICRC continues to provide essential medical services through its field hospital in Gaza, including maternity care and medical consultations. The organization is also working to repair water-supply facilities to help residents access this vital resource.

However, he warned that humanitarian organizations can provide only the bare minimum of the assistance required to address the scale of the crisis.

The destruction of hospitals and the severe reduction in the capacity of Gaza’s healthcare system have sharply restricted Palestinians’ access to medical treatment, despite the continued efforts of healthcare workers, the Palestine Red Crescent Society and the ICRC.

Krähenbühl stressed that humanitarian relief alone cannot resolve the crisis, emphasizing that lasting improvements in living conditions require political action alongside emergency assistance.

He renewed calls for all patients to receive the treatment they need and for those requiring specialized medical care outside Gaza to be allowed to leave the enclave without obstruction.

The ICRC chief also drew attention to the plight of hundreds of children living with severe, long-term injuries and amputations, who require sustained medical treatment, rehabilitation and specialized care.

For these children, the consequences of the destruction extend far beyond immediate survival, with access to prosthetics, rehabilitation services and continuing medical support essential to their long-term recovery.

The collapse of medical infrastructure and the limited availability of specialized services inside Gaza have made meeting these needs increasingly difficult, leaving vulnerable patients dependent on assistance that remains insufficient to address the scale of their suffering.

Krähenbühl warned that funding shortages are placing additional pressure on humanitarian operations at a time when Palestinians continue to face critical medical and humanitarian needs.

He urged governments and international donors to maintain their financial support for relief efforts in Gaza, stressing that humanitarian organizations need sufficient resources to continue delivering lifesaving assistance.

The ICRC’s warning underscores the limitations of emergency aid in an enclave where widespread destruction, displacement and the deterioration of essential services continue to undermine daily life.

Krähenbühl emphasized that addressing the catastrophe requires more than humanitarian operations alone. Ensuring access to medical treatment, restoring essential services and improving living conditions will also depend on effective political action and the international community’s willingness to meet its obligations toward Gaza’s civilian population. (ILKHA)