https://arab.news/gzzdt
- Dr. Abdel Salam Sabah said severe malnutrition causes vitamin and mineral deficiencies, which increase the risk of vision impairment
- He warned that 4,000 to 5,000 patients who regularly visited the eye hospital before the war are now without follow-up or treatment
LONDON: An eye hospital in Gaza reported on Monday nearly 1,200 new cases of complete or partial vision loss in July in the Palestinian coastal enclave as Israel continues its attacks and medical resources deplete.
Dr. Abdel Salam Sabah, the director of the Eye Hospital in Gaza, reported that medical staff addressed nearly 1,200 new cases of complete or partial vision loss in Gaza City and the Al-Nasr neighborhood over the past two weeks.
The hospital had previously recorded approximately 1,500 cases of total or partial blindness due to eye injuries, he said, while many others face progressive vision loss from untreated chronic illnesses.
Dr. Sabah warned that 4,000 to 5,000 patients who regularly visited the hospital before the war in October 2023 are now without follow-up or treatment, putting them at serious risk of losing their sight.
He added that severe malnutrition causes vitamin and mineral deficiencies, which increase the risk of vision impairment, particularly in patients with diabetes.
Since March 2, 2025, Israeli forces have closed all border crossings with Gaza, greatly limiting the quantities of food and medical aid entering the enclave, which has led to a widespread famine. Since Israel’s attack on Gaza in late 2023, there have been 58,895 Palestinian deaths, mainly among women and children, and 140,980 injuries.