World Health Organization Expresses Concern Over Infectious Disease Outbreaks in Gaza

The World Health Organization (WHO) has expressed serious concern over the outbreak of infectious diseases in Gaza, stating that hundreds of thousands of Palestinians remain displaced, many living in overcrowded shelters and health centers. WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus announced on Friday that from mid-October to mid-December, the following cases have been reported in shelters across Gaza: approximately 180,000 cases of upper respiratory infections, 136,400 cases of diarrhea - half of which are in children under 5 years old, 55,400 cases of lice and scabies, 5,330 cases of chickenpox, 42,700 cases of skin lesions, 4,683 cases of acute jaundice syndrome, and 126 cases of meningitis. The statement adds: 'The WHO and its partners are tirelessly working with health authorities to enhance disease surveillance and control through the provision of medicines, rapid testing kits for infectious diseases such as hepatitis, and efforts to improve access to drinking water, food, sanitation, and sewage services.' According to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA), since October 7, 1.9 million Palestinians, constituting about 85% of Gaza's population, have been displaced. The WHO stated in a statement released on Wednesday that only 13 out of 36 hospitals in Gaza are partially operational, and two other hospitals provide minimal services. On Friday, Israel announced that it facilitated the entry of approximately 50,000 vaccine doses, sufficient to vaccinate around 1.4 million people against diseases including polio, tuberculosis, hepatitis, diphtheria, tetanus, whooping cough, and meningitis. The entry of these vaccines was coordinated with UNICEF to prevent the spread of disease in the Gaza region. In the October 7 attack on southern Israel, Hamas and its allies killed about 1,200 people, most of whom were civilians, and abducted around 240 individuals. It is estimated that 129 others are still held hostage in Gaza. The United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, the European Union, Japan, Israel, and several other countries have listed Hamas as a terrorist organization. The UN states that to prevent the escalation of the war between Israel and Hamas, tensions in the region must be reduced. At least five killed in airstrikes on positions of Iranian-backed militants on the Iraq-Syria border. Escalation of conflict between Israel and Hamas; Palestinian sources report that 200 people were killed in Gaza in the past 24 hours. The Biden administration once again agreed to emergency arms sales to Israel without congressional approval. Naftali Bennett's revelation: I ordered 'attacks on Iran' twice. Saudi media: 11 commanders and members of the IRGC were killed in Israel's attack on Syria.