GAZA, (PIC)
The health and food crisis in Gaza is deepening, with medical and official warnings of severe repercussions that could endanger thousands of lives, especially among children.
Meanwhile, families in shelters and displacement camps are facing harsh living conditions, marked by overcrowding and the spread of disease.
Dr. Ahmed al-Farra, head of the pediatric department at Nasser Hospital, said that malnutrition still poses a serious threat to children, alongside the spread of infectious diseases.
Dr. Farra warned of the continued deterioration of the nutritional and health situation in Gaza, explaining that the malnutrition clinic received 75 children in a single working day despite its limited capacity, which reflects the mounting pressure on the health system.
Dr. Farra noted that nearly half of the cases among children suffer from moderate malnutrition, whereas earlier periods had shown more severe cases.
He also pointed to rising rates of anemia among children and pregnant women, amid Israeli restrictions on the entry of essential supplies that disrupted the food system in Gaza.
Dr. Farra added that protein shortages and inconsistent availability of infant formula contribute to worsening health conditions.
Dr. Farra also reported the spread of multiple diseases in Gaza, including gastrointestinal and skin infections as well as illnesses linked to rodents and insects, conditions fueled by environmental deterioration, waste accumulation, and the collapse of infrastructure.
In a related context, Gaza’s ministry of public works and housing warned of growing hardships for displaced people as summer approaches, noting that overcrowding in tents and the spread of insects and rodents pose a direct threat to residents’ lives, especially children.
According to representative of the ministry Najla Hammad, conditions inside Gaza’s shelters have deteriorated to catastrophic levels and demand immediate action to improve living standards.
