On Friday, the World Health Organization expressed deep concern about the escalating spread of disease in Gaza as weeks of Israeli bombardments have led to the population crowding into shelters with scarce food and clean water, as per a report by Reuters
Richard Peeperkorn, WHO Representative in the Occupied Palestinian Territory said, "We are extremely concerned about the spread of disease when the winter season arrives," said
He highlighted alarming statistics, noting that more than 70,000 cases of acute respiratory infections and over 44,000 cases of diarrhoea have been reported, significantly surpassing anticipated figures.
The spread of disease in Gaza has been a cause for concern, as highlighted by previous warnings from WHO. The ongoing bombardments and ground offensive have not only disrupted the health system but also limited access to clean water. As a result, people have been forced to seek shelter in crowded conditions.
(Photo: Reuters.com, Aljazeera.com)
Another concern at the start of the rainy season and the chances of flooding has also increased fears that the densely populated enclave's sewage system will be overwhelmed resulting in disease spreading.
According to the report, lack of fuel has led to the closure of sewage pumping stations and desalination plants, raising the risk of water contamination and disease outbreaks. The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) reported on Friday that approximately 813,000 internally displaced individuals are residing in at least 154 shelters operated by UNRWA, the U.N. Palestinian refugee agency.
(With Input from Reuters)
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