GENEVA: World Health Organization (WHO) chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus has said that he is “very concerned” regarding the increasing threat of infectious diseases in Gaza, western media reported on Friday.
In a statement via social media, Tedros said that as people continue to be massively displaced across Gaza, with some people forced to move multiple times and many sheltering in overcrowded health facilities. He added that his WHO colleagues and he remain very concerned regarding the increasing threat of infectious diseases in the Gaza Strip.
As people continue to be massively displaced across the south of #Gaza, with some families forced to move multiple times and many sheltering in overcrowded health facilities, my @WHO colleagues and I remain very concerned about the increasing threat of infectious diseases.… pic.twitter.com/yszTuAN8Eu
— Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus (@DrTedros) December 29, 2023
Israel’s relentless bombardment and ground attack in the Gaza Strip have killed more than 21,320 people, mostly children and women, health ministry in Gaza said.
WHO Head “Very Concerned” By Gaza Infectious Diseases Threat
The WHO chief said that since mid-October until mid-December, people and families living in shelters had continued to fall sick in Gaza.
Tedros Adhanom said that around 180,000 people were suffering with upper respiratory infections, and 136,400 cases of diarrhoea have also been reported — half of those among kids.
He said there had been around 55,400 cases of lice and scabies; about 5,330 cases of chickenpox; and as many as 42,700 cases of skin rash, including 4722 cases of impetigo.
Tedros said that WHO and partners were working tirelessly to support the health officials to increase disease surveillance and control by providing medicines, equipment to support prompt detection and response to infectious diseases like hepatitis, and trying to enhance access to safe water, hygiene, food, and sanitation services.
