Shattered healthcare and sanitation systems must be restored in Gaza, says World Health Organization. More people could die from disease than from bombings in the Gaza Strip if the health and sanitation systems are not repaired, the World Health Organization (WHO) has said.
Critical infrastructure in the besieged territory has been crippled by fuel and supply shortages and targeted attacks on hospitals and United Nations facilities since Israel launched strikes on Gaza on October 7. The ongoing conflict has left the healthcare and sanitation systems in shambles, posing a significant threat to the health and well-being of Gaza’s population.
“Eventually we will see more people dying from disease than from bombardment if we are not able to put back together this health system,” said Margaret Harris, a spokesperson for the WHO, speaking at a briefing in Geneva on Tuesday. She described the collapse of al-Shifa Hospital in northern Gaza as a “tragedy” and voiced concern about the detention of some of its medical staff by Israeli forces who took over the complex earlier this month.
The WHO has also expressed alarm over the rise in outbreaks of infectious diseases in Gaza, particularly diarrheal diseases. Citing a United Nations report on the living conditions of displaced residents in northern Gaza, Harris highlighted the lack of access to essential healthcare services, safe water, hygiene, and food. This dire situation raises the prospect of an enormous surge of gastrointestinal and infectious diseases, including cholera, among the local population.
For Gaza’s 2.3 million residents, half of whom are children, finding drinkable water has become close to impossible. The WHO has recorded more than 44,000 cases of diarrhea and 70,000 acute respiratory infections, but the real numbers may be significantly higher. The approaching winter season brings additional concerns, as rains and floods could exacerbate the already dire situation.
The UN children’s agency in Gaza has reported that hospitals are overwhelmed with children suffering from war wounds and gastroenteritis caused by drinking dirty water. Without immediate intervention, the risk of major disease outbreaks will increase dramatically, warns Richard Brennan, the regional emergency director for the Eastern Mediterranean region at WHO.
Despite a temporary truce agreement between Israel and Hamas, the humanitarian situation in Gaza remains catastrophic. Fuel shortages continue to plague hospitals, hindering their ability to provide essential medical care. The UN special coordinator for the Middle East peace process, Tor Wennesland, has called for urgent and consistent aid and supplies to alleviate the suffering of Palestinians in Gaza.
Gaza City Mayor Yahya al-Siraj has emphasized the urgency of the situation, stating that without fuel, the territory cannot pump clean water or effectively clear waste, posing a potential public health “catastrophe.” Efforts are underway to restore operations at al-Shifa, Gaza’s largest hospital, but the road to recovery remains steep.
The toll of the Israeli bombardment on Gaza’s population has been devastating. According to health authorities in the enclave, more than 14,800 Palestinians, including 6,150 children and over 4,000 women, have lost their lives.
The international community must rally together to address the urgent healthcare and sanitation needs in Gaza. Immediate action is required to prevent further loss of life and alleviate the suffering of the Palestinian population.
