Gaza's Humanitarian Crisis Deepens as Respiratory Illnesses Surge
In Gaza, a dire humanitarian crisis is unfolding. Displaced people face severe shortages of medicine and basic supplies, leading to a surge in respiratory illnesses. The United Nations and aid agencies urge immediate intervention to allow essential supplies into the territory.
Um Muhammad al-Masri, a displaced woman, relies on an inhaler provided by UNRWA to manage her asthma. However, she uses it so frequently that she needs a new one every three days, despite it being designed to last over two weeks. This is due to the lack of basic staples, including fuel and food, in the territory. The situation is so dire that hospitals in Gaza are unable to provide adequate treatment, with doctors warning of a surge in respiratory illnesses. Dr. Khalil Al-Daqran, spokesperson for the Ministry of Health in Gaza, attributes this to families burning plastic and cardboard for cooking and heating, as they have no other means.
The United Nations and a coalition of over 20 major aid agencies working in Gaza are calling for urgent intervention. They urge international pressure on Israel to allow the entry of essential supplies such as medicine, medical equipment, fuel, and food into Gaza. The UN warns that escalating hostilities and access constraints are exacerbating the crisis, with hundreds of thousands of displaced people relying on rudimentary means of survival. Aisha al-Ra'i, another displaced woman, also suffers from chronic illness but must keep her oven burning daily to support her family.
The UN stands ready to provide more essential hoodies, but obstacles prevent supplies from entering at the scale needed. The worsening humanitarian crisis in Gaza, with its severe shortages of medicine and basic staples, requires immediate attention and action from the international community.
