Palestinian Minister of Health warns of outbreak of disease in storm-battered Gaza

Palestinian Health Minister Majed Abu Ramadan has warned of the risk of the outbreak of disease in Gaza as tens of thousands of displaced people have faced flooding while sheltering in makeshift tents. Israeli restrictions have meant scarce aid- and in particular, shelter materials- is entering the strip, leaving almost all of Gaza's population exposed to the elements and health risks amid rapidly deteriorating sanitation conditions. Abu Ramdan emphasised that the razing of infrastructure by Israel as part of its onslaught on Gaza has amplified the health risks. Overcrowded displacement camps and the cold and damp conditions inside damaged tents could expose children, infants and elderly people to an elevated risk of respiratory infections. Meanwhile, lack of clean water, busted sewage systems, and mounting waste pose the risk of water and food contamination, as well as the spread of rodents and insects. Abu Ramadan also emphasised that widespread malnutrition, particularly among children and pregnant women, means their bodies will be less able to fight off infections. "What is happening in Gaza is not a passing winter crisis, but an escalating threat to public health and people's lives that requires immediate international action commensurate with the scale of the catastrophe," Abu Ramadan said.