GAZA,(Palestine Foundation Information Center) The United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) has warned of severe public health risks in the Gaza Strip due to a growing lack of clean water, soap, and adequate shelter—conditions made worse by summer heat and the ongoing Israeli blockade.
In a post on its official Twitter account Saturday, UNRWA called once again for the immediate lifting of the blockade and for permission to resume the delivery of essential humanitarian aid, including hygiene supplies. The agency reported that many Palestinian children are unable to bathe due to a complete absence of clean water and soap, leaving them highly vulnerable to disease.
“Overcrowded shelters and the summer heat in Gaza could lead to serious health consequences,” the agency stated, emphasizing the urgency of the situation.
The health system in Gaza is already in total collapse, with hospitals and clinics deliberately targeted by the Israeli occupation forces, and the entry of medical supplies, equipment, and fuel blocked since March. The remaining medical facilities are on the verge of shutting down due to the worsening fuel crisis, compounding the humanitarian catastrophe.
Since October 7, 2023, Israel—backed by the US—has carried out a campaign of genocide in Gaza marked by mass killings, starvation, destruction of infrastructure, and forced displacement. Israel continues to defy international calls and binding rulings by the International Court of Justice demanding an end to the atrocities.
To date, more than 195,000 Palestinians have been martyred or injured, most of them women and children. Over 10,000 remain missing, and hundreds of thousands are displaced, as famine and disease claim more lives daily—especially among children.
