The United Nations has issued a warning about the widespread outbreak of intestinal, skin diseases, and Hepatitis in the Gaza Strip. This alarming health crisis comes as Israel reportedly halves the fuel supply designated for humanitarian aid following the end of a humanitarian ceasefire.
Adnan Abu Hasna, the media advisor for the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA), expressed grave concerns about the surge in intestinal and skin diseases in Gaza, noting that intestinal diseases have quadrupled, and skin diseases have tripled in occurrence. There are also reports of spreading Hepatitis in the region, along with other epidemics like cholera.
Thomas White, the UNRWA Director of Operations in Gaza, reported that one of the UNRWA schools in the Palestinian sector is experiencing an outbreak of Hepatitis A. This situation is exacerbated by Israel’s reduction in fuel supplies for humanitarian aid by 50% at the end of the ceasefire, which UNRWA warns could cost more lives.
Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, the Director-General of the World Health Organization (WHO), described the health sector situation in Gaza as “unimaginable,” emphasizing the horrific reports of heavy Israeli bombing that “cause terror.” He recounted a visit by his team to Nasser Medical Hospital in southern Gaza, which was overwhelmed with patients, housing three times its capacity. Ghebreyesus highlighted the unbearable conditions, with patients receiving care on the floor and in agony, underscoring the urgency of the situation.
Meanwhile, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk called for an immediate end to the violence, citing the “brutal resumption of hostilities in the Gaza Strip and the horrific impact on civilians.” He emphasized the need for a political solution based on full respect for the human rights of both Palestinians and Israelis.
Additionally, Wael Abu Omar, the spokesman for the Rafah Crossing on the Palestinian side, informed Al-Ittihad that 100 trucks of aid, including 3 fuel trucks, entered Gaza. The total number of people leaving Gaza for Egypt reached 894, including 862 foreigners, 12 injured, and one patient accompanied by 16 people, in addition to a 3-member UN delegation.
As of December 1, a 7-day humanitarian truce between the Palestinians and Israel, mediated by Qatar and Egypt, has ended. The truce allowed for the exchange of prisoners and the entry of limited humanitarian aid into the densely populated Gaza Strip, home to about 2.3 million Palestinians.
