Diseases rapidly spreading in Gaza amid food and water shortages

WHO “가자지구 질병 급증 굶주림과 병의 치명적 조합“ As the armed conflict in Gaza approaches the three-month mark, the situation is dire for Gazans struggling to survive in camps. The WHO is reporting a rapid spread of diseases in the region, combined with a food crisis. Lee Seung-jae starts us off. With many Gazans left with minimal medical assistance due to the ongoing armed conflict in the war-torn region, the World Health Organization said Wednesday that diseases are rapidly increasing in the Gaza Strip as sanitary conditions have become extremely poor. The UN health agency says there have been more than one hundred thousand cases of diarrhea since mid-October, and half of the patients are children under the age of five. Also, the number of sick people continues to increase rapidly. With many living in close quarters in crowded camps, the number of respiratory infection cases in Gaza has exceeded 150 thousand, increasing seven-fold in just 45 days. The WHO added that other illnesses such as meningitis, skin rash, and chicken pox have also been reported, and many residents appear to have symptoms of jaundice and even hepatitis. According to the World Food Programme, all 2-point-2 million residents of the Gaza Strip are in a state of “acute food insecurity“, adding that the region is currently in a level-four “emergency“ crisis out of a five-tier classification. Level 3 or higher is considered an acute food crisis. Combined with the food shortage, Palestinians are also facing drinking water shortages as facilities capable of supplying water are repeatedly damaged. According to the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs on Wednesday, a water pipe passing east of Khan Younis was seriously damaged by an Israeli airstrike on Monday, cutting off drinking water to the entire region. The damaged water pipe was one of two water pipes supplying drinking water from Israel to southern Gaza. UN organizations fear that the water shortage will exacerbate the dire health conditions of Gazans, especially children, who are particularly vulnerable. Lee Seung-jae, Arirang News. #WHO #Gaza #Disease #Food #Water #가자지구 #질병 #식량_부족 #Arirang_News #아리랑뉴스 📣 Facebook : 📣 Twitter : 📣 Homepage : 2023-12-28, 09:00 (KST)