The World Health Organization (WHO) has issued a warning of potential worsening epidemics in Gaza as winter approaches. The UN World Food Programme also warned of the “immediate possibility of starvation” among the people.
According to UN agencies, due to a lack of power, the city pumps have not been working causing a risk of sewage leaks on the streets. The UN suggested earlier this week that it needed a daily supply of 160,000 liters of fuel for its basic humanitarian operations.
The health organization attributes the notable increase in disease cases to crowded conditions in shelters. Richard Peeperkorn, WHO Representative for the West Bank and Gaza confirmed that there are currently over 70,000 cases of acute respiratory infections, with more than 44,000 cases of diarrhea recorded in the densely populated enclave.
“We are extremely concerned about the spread of the disease when the winter season arrives,” he said.
The scarcity of fuel in Gaza has caused desalination plants to shut down resulting in people drinking contaminated water, significantly increasing the risk of bacterial infections like diarrhoea.
However, following a request from the US, which was unanimously approved by Israel’s war cabinet, reports from the Reuters news agency and local media say that Israel will allow two fuel trucks a day to enter Gaza for the UN’s humanitarian operations. They also said Israel would track the fuel delivery to ensure it doesn’t reach Hamas.
The Israeli official said the fuel would provide “minimal” support for water and sewage systems to prevent outbreaks of disease.
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