Medical facilities run by the Palestine Red Crescent Society in Gaza are nearly out of supplies, including medicine and fuel, forcing nearly half of them to shut down, Al Jazeera reports quoting Tommaso Della Longa, spokesman for the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies.

The situation is especially critical for patients with chronic illnesses, many of whom are no longer being treated, he said. “This leads to severe suffering for patients with cancer, diabetes and those needing kidney dialysis.”

“The situation is worsening minute after minute,” Della Longa added, noting that shortages persist even as tonnes of aid sit stalled at the border.

Humanitarian aid needs to enter “at scale immediately”, said Della Longa. “The time for words finished months ago. Now we need to see actions.”