Gaza: The World Health Organization reported more than 17,000 cases of infections linked to rodents and external parasites among displaced people in the Gaza Strip since the beginning of the year, amid worsening health and humanitarian conditions.
According to Palestine News and Information Agency - WAFA, the organization highlighted that 'desperate and dangerous conditions in Gaza continue to hinder recovery efforts,' with rising infection rates among families as the health sector faces severe shortages of supplies and equipment. The WHO estimated the damage to the health sector at around $1.4 billion, noting that more than 1,800 health facilities have been partially or completely destroyed, including major hospitals such as Al-Shifa Hospital, along with primary healthcare centers, clinics, pharmacies, and laboratories.
The newly appointed WHO representative in the occupied Palestinian territory, Reinhilde Van de Weerdt, described the scale of destruction during her first visit to Gaza, stating that 'nothing can prepare you for the sheer magnitude of devastation there.' She emphasized that witnessing the destruction firsthand offers a more striking understanding than merely reading reports and figures.
Van De Weerdt noted that over 17,000 infection cases have been recorded among displaced people, and more than 80% of displacement sites have reported skin diseases due to deteriorating living conditions. She stressed the urgent need for laboratory equipment and supplies to better understand the spread of diseases, highlighting that their entry has been restricted under the ongoing Israeli blockade on Gaza.
She called for immediate changes, including protection for healthcare workers, the entry of medicines and essential supplies, and the lifting of restrictions affecting the health sector.
