Red Cross Field Hospital in Rafah Expands Amid Gaza Health Crisis

The Red Cross Field Hospital in Rafah is undergoing expansion and upgrades, increasing its bed capacity and improving medical services to address critical shortages and provide continuous care for Palestinians in southern Gaza, who face severe challenges due to ongoing conflict.

Sat May 23 2026

Red Cross Field Hospital Expansion and Service Improvements

The Red Cross Field Hospital in Rafah, southern Gaza Strip, is undergoing significant development and expansion. This upgrade will increase its bed capacity from 60 to 72 and will include tangible improvements in the operating room, outpatient clinics, emergency departments, and post-operative care services. Amani Al-Naouq, spokesperson for the ICRC in Gaza, stated that these efforts will greatly contribute to the continued operation of the hospital and the sustained support of the health system in the Gaza Strip, aiming to reduce overcrowding within the facility.

Severe Challenges in Gaza's Healthcare System

Dr. Mohammed Ismail Shaaban, a doctor at the Red Cross Field Hospital, highlighted the severe shortage of medical staff and human resources, especially scientific expertise. Many skilled personnel have been lost or have left the Gaza Strip since the beginning of the war. Furthermore, there is a limited number of advanced medical devices, such as MRI and CT scanners; currently, only one such device is operational in southern Gaza. These devices are under enormous pressure and require regular maintenance, compounding the crisis. The shortage of medicines, particularly for chronic diseases, remains a continuous and critical issue.

Limitations of Temporary Facilities and the Need for Infrastructure Development

According to Nidal Abu Tarboush, Head of the engineering department at the Red Cross Field Hospital, the hospital, established two years ago in May 2024, was initially designed as a temporary field hospital in a conflict zone, intended to operate for no more than six months. However, two years later, the hospital is still there, and the humanitarian and health needs persist. Therefore, a comprehensive development process for the worn-out and damaged infrastructure has become necessary. Patients like Ali Abu Alwan and Mahmoud Farid Al-Najjar described facing constant dangers, including shelling from warships and stray bullets, emphasizing that the hospital, made up of tents, cannot provide adequate safety or security from such threats.

*Source: YouTube: Middle East Eye (2026-05-23)*

Tags: #Gaza #Rafah #Red Cross #Field Hospital #Healthcare Crisis