World Health Organization warned that the scorching heat in the Gaza Strip could exacerbate the health crisis facing displaced Palestinians in the tents, on Friday, noting that extreme heat has killed hundreds worldwide, as the northern hemisphere summer begins.
“We’ve seen massive displacement over the last weeks and months, and we know that combination and the heat can cause a rise in diseases,” said Richard Peeperkorn, WHO’s representative for Gaza and the West Bank.
“We have water contamination because of hot water, and we will have much more food spoilage because of the high temperature. We will get insects – mosquitoes and flies, dehydration, heat stroke.”
The World Food Programme has warned that a massive public health crisis is looming in Gaza due to the lack of clean water, food and medical supplies.
Due to poor water and sanitation conditions, the number of cases of diarrhoea were 25 times higher than usual, Peeperkorn said, adding that an estimated 10,000 patients still required medical evacuation from Gaza, half of whom are suffering from ailments related to the war.
Contaminated water and poor sanitation are linked to diseases such as cholera, diarrhoea, dysentery and hepatitis A, according to the WHO.
The WHO has been unable to carry out medical evacuations from Gaza since the closure of the Rafah Crossing in early May.
Health sources said Israel’s air and ground offensive has killed more than 37,400 Palestinians since October7.
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