WHO warns: Occupation practices in Gaza threaten spread of epidemics in the region

Dr. Hanan Balkhy, WHO Regional Director for the Eastern Mediterranean, warned of serious repercussions from Israeli occupation practices in the Gaza Strip. She affirmed that preventing the entry of humanitarian aid and obstructing medical response will inevitably lead to the outbreak of diseases and epidemics that may not stop at the borders of the Strip, but rather threaten the health security of the entire region.

Balkhy explained in press statements today, Monday, that the severe deterioration in the health situation is no longer limited to direct injuries resulting from military attacks. Rather, it now includes systematic deprivation of basic medical services, which puts hundreds of thousands of residents at risk of existential health risks due to the absence of preventive and curative care.

The UN official pointed out that the remaining medical staff in Gaza are working in impossible conditions, as the health system faces pressures far exceeding its capacity. This comes at a time when medical resources are sharply decreasing, while the health needs of the population are rapidly increasing as a result of the ongoing aggression and blockade.

Sources in the organization revealed that huge quantities of life-saving medicines and medical supplies are still stuck in trucks awaiting permission to enter. In contrast, patients and injured people inside the Strip suffer from a lack of access to these supplies, due to the closure of most vital crossings and the strict restrictions imposed by the occupation on the flow of aid.

Regarding the energy crisis, Balkhy noted that the quantities of fuel allowed to enter do not meet the minimum needs of medical facilities. This severe shortage has forced the remaining hospitals to adopt an alternating operating system for vital departments, which threatens the lives of patients in intensive care units and surgical operations.

The international official also criticized the lack of regularity in medical evacuation operations for critically ill patients, considering that this slowdown deprives thousands of opportunities for survival. Official data indicated that since the ceasefire came into effect, only 388 patients have been able to leave the Strip for treatment, including 47 children.

In the long term, Balkhy warned that the process of rebuilding what the occupation destroyed in the Gaza Strip may take decades. She explained that the destruction of infrastructure and housing creates a fertile environment for the establishment of infectious diseases and the exacerbation of chronic health crises, making health recovery a distant prospect under current conditions.

The UN official concluded by referring to the organization's continuous efforts since October 2023, where it contributed to coordinating the evacuation of some 3668 patients to receive treatment abroad. Despite these efforts, the number remains very small compared to the magnitude of the health catastrophe caused by the ongoing aggression on the medical system in Gaza.

The health system is operating at its maximum capacity, with severely dwindling resources, limited access, and rapidly increasing needs, while life-saving supplies await behind the crossings.