Occupied Jerusalem, April 5 (SANA) – Health conditions in the Gaza Strip have reached a critical breaking point as continuous displacement, extreme overcrowding, and the collapse of basic infrastructure create a high-risk environment for the massive spread of infectious diseases.
Palestinian Health Minister Majed Abu Ramadan issued a stark warning regarding the proliferation of rats and mice amidst the vast mounds of untreated medical waste and rubble. He emphasized that the current environment has become a breeding ground for rodents, significantly increasing the risk of outbreaks of deadly diseases such as plague, leptospirosis, salmonella, and tularemia.
The Minister noted that over one million Palestinians are currently living in fragile conditions within tents or in the open air, doubling their vulnerability. The health crisis is particularly acute among children, with thousands suffering from permanent disabilities and malnutrition, leading to higher mortality rates, especially among infants.
UN warnings of “sharply escalating” risks
The World Health Organization (WHO) previously warned that the risk of disease transmission is “escalating sharply” due to the disruption of health facilities and water and sanitation systems. Dr. Luca Pigozzi, acting director of the WHO office in Gaza, stated that local communities remain highly vulnerable to extreme weather conditions, including heavy rains and sandstorms, which further compromise hygiene.
The United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) also reported a dangerous surge in waterborne diseases and skin infections. The agency attributed the spike to the breakdown of sewage systems and the severe lack of clean water within overcrowded shelters.
A breeding ground for disease
As summer approaches, medical professionals at the Nasser Medical Complex expressed deep concern over the presence of rodents and insects near food and water sources in displacement camps. Doctors reported a steady influx of children to emergency rooms suffering from respiratory infections caused by dust from the destruction, alongside a rise in gastrointestinal and skin diseases.
Urgent calls for international intervention
The Palestinian Ministry of Health has called on the WHO and the international community to facilitate the immediate entry of rodent control materials and to bolster the depleted healthcare system with essential medicines and supplies.
UN agencies echoed these calls, stressing that without the restoration of minimum water and sanitation services and the implementation of large-scale pest control programs, the region faces the threat of uncontrollable epidemics that would be nearly impossible to contain under current conditions.
Kh.A
