GAZA, (The Palestine Foundation Pakistan)A senior medical official in the Gaza Strip has warned of an escalating health disaster, with more than 70,000 cases of hepatitis reported, amid a total collapse of medical and sanitation systems caused by Israel’s ongoing genocide in the enclave.
Dr. Khalil al-Daqran, spokesperson for Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital, said that the immediate opening of border crossings is a “matter of life and death,” stressing that thousands of patients urgently need treatment outside the besieged territory.
He described the humanitarian situation as “beyond catastrophic,” noting that more than 10,000 people remain missing beneath the rubble, while the identities of over 68,000 martyrs have been confirmed so far.
Al-Daqran added that thousands of bodies are still trapped under destroyed buildings because recovery crews cannot access many areas under the control of the Israeli occupation forces (IOF) and due to a lack of heavy equipment. He called on Arab countries to intervene immediately to help retrieve the martyrs.
The doctor revealed that the Israeli occupation has allowed only nine trucks of medical supplies to enter Gaza, far short of what is needed to meet the enormous shortfall. More than 41 percent of kidney patients have died since the start of the genocide, he said, warning that 67 percent of essential medical supplies are completely unavailable in Gaza’s health system.
Environmental and health catastrophe
The city of Gaza is also facing a severe environmental crisis as large amounts of untreated sewage have flooded the streets, threatening to spread further diseases among residents.
The crisis has been worsened by the Israeli blockade on municipal teams, who have been prevented from reaching the main landfill in the Juhor al-Deek area. As a result, more than 250,000 tons of waste have piled up across the city.
The destruction of 85 percent of municipal vehicles during Israel’s assault has crippled local authorities’ ability to clean streets or control the growing rodent and insect infestations.
Meanwhile, the ongoing water shortage continues to deepen the suffering of Gaza’s population, compounding what local officials describe as one of the gravest public-health emergencies in modern history.
