Gaza:The World Health Organization's representative in the occupied Palestinian territories, Reinhilde van de Werdt, has raised concerns regarding the living conditions of approximately 950,000 displaced individuals in the Gaza Strip. These people are residing in areas susceptible to flooding, with 400,000 in extremely perilous locations.
According to Maan News Agency, van de Werdt issued these warnings during a virtual address at the United Nations office's weekly press conference in Geneva. She highlighted the deteriorating health and humanitarian situation as the region braces for winter. She emphasized that the health services in Gaza are under severe strain due to ongoing Israeli attacks, with the healthcare system already stretched beyond its capacity amid critical shortages of fuel and medical supplies.
Van de Werdt noted that recent rainfall has offered a glimpse of the challenges that lie ahead for the sector, even before the official onset of winter. She warned that the situation is likely to worsen. She shared accounts from families whose tents, often their only private spaces, were washed away by floods. The mixing of sewage, waste, and contaminated water with living areas increases the risk of diseases, particularly as these areas are used for sleeping, cooking, and childcare.
There has been a significant increase in cases of acute respiratory infections, which have risen by about 33,000 compared to the previous year, now representing 11% of medical consultations before winter's arrival. Additionally, around nine health facilities have sustained damage, and inclement weather is obstructing both healthcare workers and patients from accessing medical services. Van de Werdt called for urgent provision of shelter materials, such as tents and tarpaulins, as well as resources for clean water and waste management.
She also highlighted the need for laboratory equipment to promptly identify viruses or pathogens, which is currently unavailable, and urged for immediate authorization to bring medical equipment, spare parts, generators, engines, and fuel into Gaza. Van de Werdt concluded by stressing that this is the fourth consecutive winter that will test the limits of Gaza's already overwhelmed health system, and she criticized the lack of pre-emptive action in response to prior United Nations warnings.