GAZA CITY, Gaza – UN agencies have raised alarms over the escalating risk of infectious diseases in Gaza due to severe water shortages and inadequate waste management systems.
Philippe Lazzarini, leader of the UNRWA, stated that Hepatitis A is now on the rise, impacting children particularly hard. Since the conflict began in October, there have been 40,000 reported cases of Hepatitis A, a stark increase from just 85 cases in the same timeframe prior to the outbreak.
Hepatitis A, a viral infection that causes liver inflammation, spreads through contaminated food and water or direct contact with infected individuals.
Ideal Conditions for Disease Spread
“Gaza’s waste management system has collapsed completely,” Lazzarini noted, highlighting the accumulation of trash and sewage in public areas as temperatures soar. “These conditions create a perfect storm for disease transmission.”
Additionally, humanitarian workers are preparing for a potential polio outbreak following the detection of the virus in sewage samples.
The World Health Organization (WHO) has reported ongoing efforts to secure vaccines, emphasizing that mere transportation across borders is insufficient without safe access to communities in need.
The WHO has urgently called for a ceasefire to ensure secure routes for aid delivery and vaccination efforts in Gaza.
Obstacles to Aid Delivery
Humanitarian efforts continue to be hampered by various challenges, including ongoing conflict, remnants of unexploded ordnance, impassable roads, and attacks on aid convoys. Additional restrictions imposed by Israeli authorities have further limited humanitarian access to essential supplies.
According to the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), in July, only 67 of the 157 planned aid missions to northern Gaza were executed, with many others either denied or hindered due to security concerns.
‘Tragic and Devastating Milestone’
This week, UNRWA marked a “tragic and devastating milestone” with the loss of 202 staff members since the conflict’s onset— the highest death toll for UN personnel in a single conflict since the organization’s inception in 1945.
These individuals were engaged in various roles, including teaching, healthcare, engineering, and humanitarian support. Many were killed while at home or in places they deemed safe, while others lost their lives delivering much-needed assistance.
“We echo the call for accountability for these tragic losses,” Lazzarini commented, stating that the UN will honor the memory of fallen colleagues in the weeks to come.
