Geneva - Saba:
The international relief organization Oxfam confirmed that the incidence of waterborne diseases in the Gaza Strip is witnessing a dangerous increase that could turn into a "deadly disaster."
The organization stated in a statement yesterday evening, Thursday, that Israel's deliberate denial of humanitarian aid to Gaza has significantly increased epidemics by 101-302% in the past three months.
It added that statistics for waterborne diseases such as "acute jaundice and watery and bloody diarrhea" have increased by 101%, 150%, and 302%, respectively.
It emphasized that these diseases can quickly become fatal due to hunger, difficulty accessing clean water, and the lack of shelter and healthcare.
It noted that Israel has imposed a comprehensive blockade on Gaza since March 2, and that international relief organizations in Gaza have run out of humanitarian aid in their warehouses.
She explained that these figures, while alarming, do not reflect the true scale of the crisis.
She added that most of the approximately two million Palestinians in the Gaza Strip, trapped by the ongoing Israeli blockade, lack access to the few health facilities that remain operational.
The organization warned that this outbreak of disease could quickly turn into a deadly catastrophe, especially since the people of Gaza have been deprived of adequate food, clean water, shelter, and basic healthcare for more than 21 months.
The Ministry of Health in Gaza issued an urgent humanitarian appeal calling on the international community, its institutions, and humanitarian organizations to intervene immediately to halt the aggression, rescue the collapsed health system, and improve living conditions.
The Gaza Strip is experiencing one of the worst humanitarian crises in its history, with a severe famine intertwined with a genocidal crime waged by enemy forces since October 7, 2023.