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The World Food Program has warned that a massive public health
crisis is looming in Gaza due to the lack of clean water, food
and medical supplies.
"We've seen massive displacement over the last weeks and months,
and we know that combination and the heat can cause a rise in
diseases," said Richard Peeperkorn, WHO's representative for
Gaza and the West Bank.
"We have water contamination because of hot water, and we will
have much more food spoilage because of the high temperature. We
will get insect mosquitoes and flies, dehydration, heat stroke."
Extreme heat has killed hundreds worldwide as the northern
hemisphere summer begins.
Peeperkorn said in Gaza, due to poor water and sanitation
conditions, the number of cases of diarrhea were 25 times higher
than usual.
Contaminated water and poor sanitation are linked to diseases
such as cholera, diarrhea, dysentery and hepatitis A, according
to the WHO.
The WHO has been unable to carry out medical evacuations from
Gaza since the closure of the Rafah crossing in early May.
Peeperkorn said an estimated 10,000 patients still required
medical evacuation from Gaza, half of whom are suffering from
ailments related to the war.
Israel's air and ground offensive has killed more than 37,400
people in the Hamas-ruled Palestinian territory, according to
health authorities there.
Israel launched its assault after Hamas fighters stormed across
the border into southern Israel on Oct. 7, killing around 1,200
people and taking more than 250 people hostage, according to
Israeli tallies.
(Reporting by Gabrielle Tétrault-Farber; Editing by Emelia
Sithole-Matarise)
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