Infectious Diseases 'Spiralling Out of Control' in Gaza, WHO Warns Amid Healthcare Collapse

WHO Sounds Alarm on Public Health Emergency

The World Health Organization (WHO) has declared that infectious diseases in the Gaza Strip are 'spiralling out of control', highlighting a severe public health crisis. Hanan Balkhy, WHO's Regional Director for the Eastern Mediterranean, stated that health facilities are facing a 'mammoth amount of work' to cope with the escalating situation.

Escalating Disease Burden

The humanitarian crisis has led to a dramatic surge in various infectious diseases. Reports indicate a high prevalence of conditions such as meningitis, diarrhea, and respiratory illnesses. By June 30, 2024, WHO reports showed nearly one million cases of acute respiratory infections, over half a million cases of diarrhea, and approximately 104,000 cases of acute jaundice syndrome. Skin diseases are also widespread, with over 103,000 cases of scabies and pediculosis, nearly 66,000 cases of skin rashes, and 11,214 cases of chickenpox reported. A UNICEF survey in February 2024 revealed that over 90 percent of children under five years old had one or more infections within a two-week period. A polio outbreak has also been confirmed, with poliovirus type 2 detected in environmental samples in June 2024, and the first case of paralysis in an unvaccinated child in 25 years reported in August 2024.

Infrastructure Devastation and Overcrowding Fuel Crisis

The rapid spread of diseases is directly linked to the widespread destruction of critical infrastructure and severe overcrowding. The conflict has severely damaged water and sanitation systems, leading to contaminated water supplies and inadequate hygiene conditions. All wastewater treatment plants have ceased operations due to extensive damage, causing raw sewage to flood neighborhoods and contaminate groundwater. Water availability has plummeted to as little as 8.4 liters per person per day, far below the WHO's emergency minimum of 15 liters. Over 1.5 million displaced people are living in severely overcrowded shelters with poor access to hygiene facilities and safe water, creating ideal conditions for disease transmission. The lack of fuel has also led to the shutdown of desalination plants, further exacerbating the clean water crisis.

Healthcare System on the Brink of Collapse

Gaza's healthcare system has been largely dismantled. Only 13 of the original 36 hospitals are even partially functional, with some operating at three times their bed capacity. In Gaza City, only eight partially functional health facilities remain. Since October 7, 2023, UN data indicates over 800 attacks on health facilities. Hospitals face acute shortages of medical personnel, equipment, and essential medicines. Many children born in the last two years are believed to have received zero doses of immunizations, increasing the risk of outbreaks of vaccine-preventable diseases like measles and mumps. Rebuilding Gaza's health sector is estimated to require billions of dollars and decades of work.

Urgent Calls for Aid and Action

International organizations, including the WHO and UNRWA, have repeatedly called for increased access to humanitarian aid, including fuel, food, medical equipment, medications, and personnel. Challenges in aid distribution persist, with convoys struggling to navigate damaged roads and border crossings remaining closed. The UN has emphasized that reversing the famine and controlling disease outbreaks will take significant time, even with a ceasefire, due to the extensive damage to infrastructure and the healthcare system.