Hisham Mehanna, a spokesperson for the International Committee of the Red Cross in the Gaza Strip, has issued a warning about the spread of diseases and epidemics among hundreds of thousands of displaced Palestinians in Gaza, particularly in the city of Rafah.
He emphasized the dire consequences of the lack of healthcare and the unprecedented congestion on public health in the sector.
In an exclusive statement to Al-Ittihad newspaper, Mehanna described the humanitarian situation in Gaza as catastrophic, especially following the massive displacement with a significant concentration of Palestinians in Rafah, reaching 1.5 million, most of whom live in tents or makeshift shelters without access to basic services like drinking water, food, and sanitation services.
Mehanna pointed out that the lack of power sources has led to the shutdown of water desalination and sewage treatment plants, hindering solid waste and sewage treatment processes. This accumulation in the streets and alleys where people live contributes to the spread of epidemics and diseases.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), the fuel shortage has resulted in the closure of water desalination plants, significantly increasing the risk of bacterial infections such as diarrhea due to the consumption of contaminated water.
The fuel shortage has also disrupted all solid waste collection efforts, creating an environment conducive to the rapid and widespread proliferation of insects and rodents that can transmit diseases.
Mehanna highlighted the absence of personal space due to overcrowding and the lack of personal hygiene supplies in the required quantities.
Access to toilets is extremely limited, with one toilet per 900 Palestinians in Rafah, alongside a severe shortage of drinking water, with an individual’s daily share not exceeding 3 litres, two of which are unfit for human consumption.
Mehanna mentioned that these crises are exacerbating the public health crisis in the Gaza Strip in the absence of effective healthcare systems or disease diagnosis, along with the unavailability of treatments.
Over 1.5 million displaced Palestinians are living in overcrowded shelters lacking adequate personal hygiene facilities and safe water access, increasing the risk of infectious disease transmission.
