Gaza:Palestinian Health Minister Majed Abu Ramadan has made an urgent appeal to the international community and various organizations for immediate intervention to assist hundreds of thousands of displaced Palestinians in the Gaza Strip. The call comes as heavy winter rains have flooded numerous tents, exacerbating health and environmental conditions and heightening the risk of disease outbreaks.
According to Palestine news & Information Agency – WAFA – English, Abu Ramadan highlighted that the flooding of displacement tents, combined with inadequate shelter and deteriorating health and sanitation conditions, is exposing vulnerable populations to increasing health risks. The situation is particularly concerning as the winter season is just beginning.
The minister pointed out that the crisis is further intensified by the widespread destruction of infrastructure, including water and sewage networks, along with mounting waste and shortages of clean water and hygiene supplies. These conditions are worsened by overcrowding in displacement centers, malnutrition, and limited access to essential healthcare services.
Abu Ramadan warned that the cold and damp conditions inside damaged tents, poor ventilation, and overcrowding are elevating the risk of respiratory infections such as influenza and pneumonia. This is especially dangerous for children, infants, older people, and patients. He also noted that accumulated waste and sewage contamination are creating environments conducive to rodents and insects, which increases the risk of water and food contamination and infectious diseases.
Additionally, the minister emphasized that malnutrition and food insecurity are compromising people's ability to fight infections, particularly affecting children and pregnant and breastfeeding women. Repeated illnesses are further deteriorating nutritional and health conditions. The repeated displacement, loss of shelter, and disruption in regular healthcare are aggravating the suffering of families, especially those with chronic illnesses and special medical needs.
Abu Ramadan expressed concern over Gaza's depleted healthcare system, which is struggling with damaged medical facilities and shortages of medicines, medical supplies, fuel, and personnel. He warned that this limited capacity could hinder the response to rising needs and potential disease outbreaks.
The minister described the flooding from the initial winter rains as a serious warning and cautioned that worsening weather could deepen the crisis and overwhelm displaced families. He called for urgent international action to provide safe temporary shelters, rain-resistant tents, insulation materials, heating supplies, blankets, winter clothing, clean drinking water, hygiene supplies, waste removal, pest control, and repairs to sewage networks.
In his statement, Abu Ramadan stressed that the situation in Gaza is not merely a winter crisis but an escalating threat to public health requiring immediate international action. He warned that displaced families should not be left unprotected against cold, disease, and pollution, emphasizing the need for urgent measures to prevent further preventable deaths or disease outbreaks.