Gaza civilians drink sewage water

2024-06-06 09:11:12

(MENAFN) In a sobering revelation, Hanan Balkhy, the regional director for the World Health Organization (WHO) in the Eastern Mediterranean, has shed light on the dire humanitarian situation in Gaza. Balkhy's remarks underscore the urgent need for increased aid access to the besieged territory to prevent further suffering among its residents.

Balkhy's comments, made during an interview with AFP at the WHO headquarters in Geneva, paint a grim picture of the conditions faced by some Gazans. She highlighted reports of individuals resorting to extreme measures for sustenance, including consuming animal feed and drinking sewage-contaminated water. The scarcity of basic necessities has pushed many to the brink of desperation, with children bearing the brunt of the crisis.

Moreover, Balkhy emphasized that the repercussions of the conflict between Israel and Hamas extend beyond Gaza, impacting healthcare systems across the wider region. The disruption of essential services and infrastructure exacerbates an already precarious situation, posing significant challenges to addressing the health needs of vulnerable populations.

Of particular concern are the long-term effects on children, whose physical and psychological well-being are at risk due to inadequate nutrition and living conditions. The dire circumstances faced by Gazan children, compounded by the lack of access to essential services, threaten to have lasting implications for their health and development.

Against this backdrop, Balkhy issued a heartfelt plea for immediate action to alleviate the suffering in Gaza. Urgent measures are needed to facilitate the delivery of humanitarian aid to those most in need and to ensure access to essential services, including clean water and adequate nutrition. Failure to address the humanitarian crisis swiftly could have devastating consequences for the people of Gaza, underscoring the pressing need for concerted efforts to provide assistance and support to those affected.

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