Oxfam Warns: Dangerous Outbreak of Waterborne Diseases in Gaza by 300%

Amid an unprecedented humanitarian crisis hitting the Gaza Strip, the international relief organization Oxfam has warned of the escalating danger of waterborne diseases, indicating that the health situation could quickly slide towards a 'lethal catastrophe.'

The organization stated in a statement released yesterday, Thursday, that the spread of these diseases is witnessing alarming rates, reaching percentages ranging between 101% and 302% in the past three months, posing serious consequences for the exhausted population of the Strip.

According to the statement, the rate of acute jaundice infections increased by 101%, while cases of watery diarrhea jumped by 150%, with the highest increase in bloody diarrhea cases reaching 302%. Oxfam pointed out that these diseases are rapidly worsening due to the acute shortage of clean water, lack of shelter, malnutrition, and absence of healthcare, turning them into deadly diseases in an unprepared environment for response.

The organization clarified that this dangerous outbreak comes amid a comprehensive blockade imposed by Israel on the Strip since the second of last March, leading to a near-total paralysis in the work of relief organizations that no longer have any available aid in their warehouses inside Gaza.

It also noted that the recorded numbers do not reflect the true scale of the crisis, as the vast majority of the Strip's population, numbering around two million people, do not have access to the few healthcare centers that are still partially operational.

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Health in Gaza has issued an urgent humanitarian appeal, calling on the international community and humanitarian organizations to intervene immediately to stop the war and save what remains of the collapsing healthcare system, in an attempt to contain the deteriorating humanitarian situation.

The Strip is facing one of its worst phases in its modern history, as the ongoing war since October 7, 2023, intersects with a worsening famine and a severe shortage of all basic necessities of life.

Hospitals are suffering from a catastrophic shortage of medicines and medical supplies, in addition to the collapse of their diagnostic and treatment capabilities, making every potential disease a looming threat to civilians' lives.

Despite the recent passage of 346 aid trucks to Gaza, this quantity remains extremely limited compared to the increasing needs of a population suffering from deprivation and hunger, facing relentless daily threats.