The World Health Organization has said it is ‘extremely concerned’ about the spread of disease in Gaza, after weeks of Israeli bombardments have led to people crowding into shelters with little clean water and food. Richard Peeperkorn, WHO representative for the West Bank and Gaza, said that more than 70,000 cases of acute respiratory infections and over 44,000 cases of diarrhea had been recorded, figures significantly higher than expected. The start of the rainy season and the possibility of flooding has also increased fears that the densely populated enclave’s sewage system will be overwhelmed and disease will spread. The absence of fuel has forced the shutdown of sewage pumping stations and desalination plants, increasing the risk of water contamination and the outbreak of disease
Gaza faces ‘immediate possibility’ of starvation as disease spreads, UN says
Israel-Hamas war – live updates
