UNITED NATIONS, Oct 02 (IPS) – As the humanitarian crisis in Gaza continues to worsen as a result of the Israel-Hamas war, concerns are growing about the loss of life due to prolonged flooding. Repeated airstrikes and forced evacuations in recent weeks have pressured many civilians scattered across flooded areas. Heavy rains have exacerbated the failing sanitation system, increasing the risk of water-borne diseases. Health experts fear that conditions will continue to worsen in the coming winter months.
The main cause of concern for health officials is the large accumulation of sewage caused by the accumulation of heavy rain. This has created an ideal breeding ground for bacteria, viruses, and mosquitoes. Additionally, heavy flooding greatly increases the likelihood of water contamination, which can cause diseases such as cholera and Hepatitis A. The Global WASH Cluster adds that increased flooding increases the likelihood that residents will experience snakebites. It is also said that the mental health of displaced people is expected to worsen as the living conditions become more difficult.
In a press conference issued on September 30 of the United Nations (UN), the Spokesman of the Secretary-General, Stéphane Dujarric, said that 215 educational institutions sheltering about 34,000 children are predicted to be severely damaged by the floods. Hundreds of thousands of Gazans are expected to be internally displaced this coming rainy season.
Last year’s rains were described as a disaster by health officials. Ajith Sunghay, head of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, described the sanitation levels in Gaza last year as “uninhabitable”, adding that most of the displaced people do not have access. clothes or blankets to stay warm. Sunghay emphasizes the harsh conditions of the winter months in Gaza by saying that he fears that many civilians will die and that this time of year is “completely predictable”.
The health care system in Gaza is currently ill-equipped to handle the influx of sick and injured people predicted to arrive in the latter half of 2024. According to OCHA, there are currently only 17 hospitals that are still partially operational, and all of them. facing severe shortages of fuel, medicine, and supplies.
An estimated 1.4 million people did not receive their monthly rations in September due to shortages. Currently, humanitarian organizations are in the process of delivering 600,000 daily meals despite ongoing access challenges. In addition, the World Bank estimates that until now, 100 percent of the people of Gaza live in poverty.
The Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) warns that further restrictions on humanitarian aid to the most vulnerable areas will further exacerbate the decline in public health as aid agencies will not be able to prepare for the coming rainy season. The UN and its affiliated organizations have implemented a winter freeze in an effort to ease the harsh living conditions seen in Gaza during the last half of the year. The program aims to help more than 850,000 people in nearly 50 flood-affected areas.
“It needs 242 million dollars to improve shelter conditions; provide warm clothes and blankets; and redirect flood water away from important infrastructure and disposal sites, among other interventions”, said Dujarric. However, OCHA acknowledges that these efforts will not succeed if the borders are not removed, allowing easy access between warehouses and shelters. The UN is appealing for more donor contributions as living conditions are expected to worsen in the coming months.
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© Inter Press Service (2024) — All Rights ReservedOriginal source: Inter Press Service
