Gaza, Palestine – Approximately 20,000 patients in Gaza rely on insulin, including more than 18,000 who receive it through UNRWA services. International reports reveal that the crisis is no longer limited to a shortage of medication, but extends to syringes, blood glucose meters, test strips, refrigeration, food, and medical follow-up.
It’s not just an insulin crisis
In Gaza, the question is no longer: Is there insulin? A diabetic patient needs a complete system: insulin, syringes, blood glucose meters, test strips, proper nutrition, medical follow-up, and safe storage. UNRWA says that about 20,000 diabetic patients in Gaza rely on insulin, including more than 18,000 who receive treatment through its services. The shortage of syringes is affecting various healthcare providers. In July 2026, the UN announced the arrival of 60,000 insulin syringes donated by the UAE to the Ministry of Health in Gaza, coinciding with another shipment facilitated by the World Health Organization. However, OCHA confirmed the continued shortage of some types of insulin, blood glucose meters, test strips, and supplies for diabetic foot examinations. Herein lies the paradox: the arrival of a shipment does not mean the end of the crisis, because treatment requires continuity.
From pen to bottle
In July 2026, OCHA reported that shortages of certain types of insulin had forced patients dependent on it to switch from insulin pens to vials. This increases the risk of dosing errors, especially among the most vulnerable populations, as the problem lies not only in the availability of the active ingredient but also in how it is administered and the availability of the necessary equipment.
The refrigerator is part of the treatment.
Some insulin products require specific storage conditions, but the war has added electricity and refrigeration crises to the treatment chain. International reports indicate disruptions to the cold chain and problems with infrastructure, transportation, and distribution. UNRWA has also documented testimonies of patients forced to use alternative methods to store insulin during power outages, including cooler bags and neighbors’ refrigerators. This raises the question: if insulin does arrive, where and how is it stored until it reaches the patient?
When a blood glucose meter becomes a crisis
Patients cannot manage their insulin treatment without monitoring their blood sugar levels. However, OCHA stated that the shortages also include blood glucose meters, test strips, blood pressure monitors, and diabetic foot care supplies. This means that while the medication itself may be available, some of the tools necessary for its safe use and monitoring are lacking.
Children pay the price
A study published in the World Health Organization’s Eastern Mediterranean Health Journal, involving 29 children and adolescents with type 1 diabetes in Gaza, revealed another dimension to the crisis. The study reported that 79.3% of families experienced food insecurity, 96.6% faced limited food choices, and 41.4% reported that available food did not meet the dietary requirements for people with diabetes. The study also recorded that 10.3% of cases required hospitalization due to diabetes-related emergencies. While the study’s findings cannot be generalized to all children in Gaza due to the small sample size, they illustrate how medication, diet, monitoring, and medical care are intertwined in the lives of children with diabetes.
The crisis goes beyond diabetes.
OCHA reports that essential services for some 350,000 people living with chronic illnesses remain severely disrupted, with ongoing shortages of medicines, diagnostic tools, and specialized equipment. In June 2026, OCHA noted that shortages of insulin, syringes, and dialysis supplies were undermining the treatment of non-communicable diseases. Approximately 700 patients require dialysis three times a week. Doctors Without Borders also reported in April 2026 that nearly 50% of the essential medicines it uses to treat chronic illnesses were at critically low stock levels. These included medications for diabetes, hypertension, thyroid disorders, and other conditions.
Five episodes in the insulin journey
The data reveals that the treatment journey for a diabetic patient involves five interconnected stages: medication entry → storage and refrigeration → distribution → use and measurement → medical follow-up. A disruption in any stage can affect the final outcome. Therefore, knowing the number of shipments that entered Gaza is not enough; what is more important is knowing the quantities, their regularity, the stock levels at facilities, and patients’ ability to access and use them safely.
Data up to August 2026 reveals the arrival of new shipments of insulin syringes, but simultaneously confirms the continued shortage of some types of insulin, as well as the shortage of measuring supplies and syringes themselves. This coincides with the disruption of healthcare services and problems related to energy, storage, and food. Therefore, reducing the crisis to the phrase “insulin shortage in Gaza” obscures the most important part of the story.
A patient might receive insulin, but still need a syringe; or they might receive it, but still need a measuring device and test strips; or the equipment might be available, but it needs to be stored and refrigerated; and then they need food, a doctor, and follow-up care. In Gaza, the problem isn’t just a lack of medication, but a healthcare system whose various components are under simultaneous strain. The real question isn’t: Has insulin entered Gaza? It’s: Can a diabetic patient access continuous and safe treatment from the moment the medication enters the Strip until the dose reaches their body?
