In many of today’s conflict-affected regions, healthcare systems are under immense strain. Damage to hospitals, broken supply chains, and overwhelming patient numbers have made it increasingly difficult to meet even the most basic medical needs. Among the most pressing challenges in these settings is wound care. For those injured by violence, accidents, or infection, access to simple but essential materials – sterile dressings, antiseptics, gauze, sutures – can determine the outcome between recovery and long-term disability or even death.

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Gaza is one such place where the demand for wound care has skyrocketed. Amid a collapsing healthcare infrastructure, only a fraction of medical centres remain partially operational. Clinics and hospitals often run with limited power, insufficient staff, and critical shortages of supplies. This environment makes proper wound care not just difficult, but dangerous. According to Amed, the Medical Donation Program Coordinator for Anera, our partner organisation operating clinics in Gaza, “Most of the patients come with infected wounds because of a lack of clean water and hygiene. Hospitals are overwhelmed.”

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Wound infections are not just common; they’re becoming the norm. Without proper materials, medical professionals are unable to clean and dress wounds effectively. What might be a treatable injury under normal conditions can quickly develop into a severe infection, require amputation, or become fatal. In some areas, infection rates have exceeded 50%, driven primarily by inadequate wound management.

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Hasan, a young man living in Gaza, represents one of thousands of such cases. Injured by shrapnel during a drone strike, he was rushed to a hospital where surgeons were able to save his life under extraordinary conditions. But his battle was far from over. Just days after surgery, his family was instructed to care for him at home. With no access to sterile bandages, antibiotics, or pain relief, Hasan’s condition remained unstable. Food and medicine were scarce, and the risk of infection was dangerously high.

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When a humanitarian corridor briefly opened, Hasan’s family travelled to the south of Gaza, eventually reaching Anera’s wound care clinic in Khan Younis. The clinic had the tools needed to treat his injuries properly, thanks to recent shipments of medical supplies from International Health Partners (IHP). Over the course of several weeks, Hasan received continuous wound care – clean dressings, antiseptics, and follow-up support. He began to heal, both physically and emotionally. His family credits the clinic’s staff and the supplies provided by IHP for restoring his dignity and hope. “The doctors, nurses, and staff welcomed us warmly,” his father recalls. “They treated Hasan and continued his wound care for months. We thank IHP for making it possible for families like ours to have a chance to heal.”

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Hasan’s story illustrates the life-saving role of quality wound care materials. In these environments, they are not optional; they are essential. The benefits include:

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• Preventing life-threatening infections: Proper wound cleaning and dressing significantly reduce the risk of complications.

• Avoiding unnecessary amputations and disability: Without sterile tools, clinicians may be forced to make harsh decisions due to unmanaged infections.

• Accelerating recovery and easing healthcare burdens: Effective wound care shortens healing time, lowers hospitalisation rates, and frees up limited healthcare resources.

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In Gaza alone, the demand for such care continues to grow. In May 2025, Anera’s wound clinics in Gaza City and Khan Younis treated more than 800 patients in a single day. Their ability to deliver effective care depends entirely on a steady supply of medical donations – wound care kits, antibiotics, pain medications, and protective gear – many of which come through partnerships with organisations like IHP.

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The delivery of these materials is not without challenges. Ongoing conflict and insecurity have severely limited the number of aid trucks entering affected areas. By late 2024, the volume of humanitarian deliveries to Gaza had plummeted from 500 trucks a day to as few as 40. Border closures, damaged infrastructure, and risks to aid workers have only made access more difficult. Meanwhile, global attention to other crises has further strained the ability to respond adequately.

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Despite these obstacles, organisations like IHP and Anera remain committed to filling the gap. In 2024, IHP supported the healthcare needs of over 2 million people in Gaza and the West Bank, sending critically needed supplies that made wound care and emergency treatment possible. This work is not just about logistics; it’s about restoring dignity and protecting life.

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Amed, who oversees Anera's donation program, put it simply: “The only thing that makes me happy is when I see one [person] smiling because they [have] finally found their treatment. It means the world to me."

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Hasan’s recovery is one example of what is possible when the right materials reach the right hands. But countless others still wait. Every day, new patients arrive at under-resourced clinics, their injuries untreated and their futures uncertain.

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The ongoing need for wound care materials in crisis zones is urgent and growing. These items are among the most basic tools in healthcare, but in the right context, they are transformative. “Really, I want to thank you for all your support to Anera,” Amed reiterated over the phone. “It’s all because of your shipments that we can establish more clinics, save more and more patients in need.”

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