Israel-Palestine War: WHO Warns Rapid Spread Of Infectious Diseases In Gaza (Image:Twitter/UNRWA)
Amid the escalating humanitarian crisis in the Gaza Strip, the World Health Organization (WHO) on Wednesday issued a key warning of the spread of infectious diseases across the Strip. The Israel-Palestine war has crossed a month and the death toll exceeded 10,500 according to the health ministry. In Israel, at least 1400 died and several remains wounded on both the sides. According to the intergovernmental health organization, more than 33,550 cases of diarrhoea reported in Gaza since mid-October, most among children under five. The war began on October 7 after Hamas, an Islamic-political-military outfit launched an unprecedented attack on Israel. “The current disease trends are very concerning”, said WHO in a statement.
After Israel started counter attack on Gaza, the Strip faces an increased risk of spreading diseases. The Israeli bombardments have already ruined the Palestinian health systems and initiated an unmerciful blockade of food, water, medicine, and fuel to the millions of Gaza. The crowded shelters and unavailability of clean water and sanitization worsen the condition. As said by WHO, the count of death and injuries in Gaza increases day-by-day due to “intensified hostilities, intense overcrowding and disrupted health, water, and sanitation systems pose an added danger: the rapid spread of infectious diseases”. The organisation also notified about some “worrying trends”.
The WHO added that the fuel shortage caused shutting down of desalination plants, which purifies sea water and make them available drinking water. The scarcity of pure water instantly led to the increased risk of bacterial infections like Diarrhea. The shortfall in fuel also disrupted the solid waste collection systems. It thus created an environment “conducive to the rapid and widespread proliferation of insects, rodents that can carry and transmit diseases”.
The situation is more aggravate for the 1.5 million displaced population across Gaza, especially those living in seriously overcrowded shelters. Most of such refuge camps has poor access to hygiene facilities and safe water. This eventually increased the risk of infectious diseases transmission. The United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA), WHO, and the Gaza health ministry are boosting flexible disease surveillance systems in many of these shelters and health facilities.
According to WHO, over 33,551 cases of Diarrhea have been reported since mid-October 2023. The war began on October 7. “Over half of these are among children under age five—a significant increase compared to an average of 2000 cases monthly in children under five throughout 2021 and 2022”. They have also noted 8944 cases of scabies and lice, 1005 cases of chickenpox, 12635 cases of skin rash, and 54,866 cases of upper respiratory infections.
Risk of disease spread soars in #Gaza as health facilities, water and sanitation systems disrupted
As deaths and injuries in Gaza continue to rise due to intensified hostilities, intense overcrowding and disrupted health, water, and sanitation systems pose an added danger: the… pic.twitter.com/GdP96i5CCm
— World Health Organization (WHO) (@WHO) November 8, 2023
“Disrupted routine vaccination activities, as well as lack of medicines for treating communicable diseases, further increase the risk of accelerated disease spread”, said WHO. The situation is also the result of disrupted disease surveillance system, including early disease detection and response capacities. The potential outbreaks remained uncommunicated as internet connectivity and telephone communications were either disrupted or constrained. Damaged water and sanitation systems and dwindling cleaning supplies hindered basic infection prevention and control measures in Gaza.
The deteriorated developments in Gaza increased the risk of infections arising from trauma, surgery, wound care and childbirth. “Immunosuppressed individuals, such as patients with cancer, are especially at risk of complicating infections. Insufficient personal protective equipment means that health care workers themselves can acquire and transmit infections while providing care to their patients”, the WHO added. WHO also called for an urgent, accelerated access for humanitarian aid – including fuel, water, food, and medical supplies – into and throughout the Gaza Strip to protect civilians and civilian infrastructure, including health care.
Water is life.📍#Gaza is running out of water, Gaza is running out of life
One month into the war & @UNRWA has distributed over half a million bottles of clean drinking water – but humanitarian assistance needs to be increased to meet the needs of hundreds of thousands of people pic.twitter.com/zNxLvpY2jE
— UNRWA (@UNRWA) November 7, 2023
