Heatwave Amid Israel's Aggression In Gaza Brings New Misery, Disease Risk
Mohammad Ali (@ChaudhryMAli88) Published April 25, 2024 | 11:46 PM
Unexpected blistering temperatures across the besieged Gaza have added to the daily misery faced by the enclave's people and sparked new fears of disease outbreaks amid a lack of sufficient clean water and waste disposal, UN humanitarians said on Thursday
UNITED NATIONS, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 25th Apr, 2024) Unexpected blistering temperatures across the besieged Gaza have added to the daily misery faced by the enclave's people and sparked new fears of disease outbreaks amid a lack of sufficient clean water and waste disposal, UN humanitarians said on Thursday.
The warning from the UN agency for Palestinian refugees, UNRWA, came as some 1.2 million people continued to shelter in tents pitched in and around the enclave's southernmost city, Rafah, with nowhere else to go.
"It is like living in a greenhouse, no-one can tolerate living inside," the UN agency said, quoting Mustafa Radwan, formerly from Gaza City, in a social media post on X.
With temperatures hovering around 40 degrees Celsius, Rafah's residents are acutely aware that conditions will become even more uncomfortable once summer comes, with temperatures set to reach "50 or 60", said Mr. Radwan, who lives in a tent with eight family members.
Clean water remains scarce in Rafah and long queues are an everyday reality, Mr. Radwan continued. "Everything is a queue, everything is suffering in displacement."
In a related development, UN aid teams reported that no humanitarian missions were possible to northern Gaza on Wednesday as the Israeli army closed its checkpoints on two roads due to troop movements.
But the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) noted that a joint UNRWA and UN Children's Fund (UNICEF) mission did reach Jabalia on Tuesday, providing medical aid and water purification assistance.
The UN agency for Palestinians also reported successfully converting a children's nursery into a functioning health facility in the Mawasi area of the devastated city of Khan Younis.
The pop-up clinic receives around 2,000 individuals daily and offers services ranging from chronic disease care, maternal and child health care, dental services and psychological counselling.
"With the onset of summer, difficulties increase from water scarcity and overcrowding, leading to the spread of infectious diseases, skin sensitivities, lice, and other illnesses," said Dr. Ahmed Hanouda, the clinic's director.
"We are, of course, trying to address these problems and provide services to the displaced people under these challenging circumstances based on the available resources. We look forward to offering better services and providing better facilities in the coming days," he said.
Atrocious conditions
Asked at the regular UN daily briefing in New York about Israel's plan which remains on the table to invade Rafah in its quest to eliminate Palestine fighters, Spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric said a ground operation would be a humanitarian catastrophe.
"We're operating in a conflict zone…we will not be a party to any forced displacement of people", he added.
Quizzed further about the rising temperatures, he said conditions are already atrocious. The whole system of treatment of solid waste has basically crumbled with the unimaginable sanitation impact that has on people's health."
APP/ift
Related Topics
Recent Stories
Currency Rate In Pakistan - Dollar, Euro, Pound, Riyal Rates On 5 May 2024
Today Gold Rate in Pakistan 05 May 2024
Bugti assures transporters for addressing their problems
Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister, Mohammad Ishaq Dar meets foreign min ..
3 drug peddlers arrested, hashish recovered
1496,990 children given polio drops in five days: DC
Six terrorists killed, hideout busted in N Waziristan IBO: ISPR
Pakistan, Qatar agree to further expand trade, investment ties
Sindh cabinet approves Rs177.5m to strengthen, mobilize various wings of police
Faisal Karim Kundi takes oath as new KP Governor
Azad Jammu and Kashmir Prime Minister Anwaar ul Haq Chaudhry seeks more vibrant ..
Tahaffuz Manzil Foster Home providing care & support to homeless children
More Stories From World
-
Teenager turns self in after attack on German politician
5 minutes ago -
Russia says forces seized village in eastern Ukraine
15 minutes ago -
Togo ruling party wins legislative vote in boost for Gnassingbe
45 minutes ago -
Race against time to rescue Brazil flood victims after dozens killed
55 minutes ago -
PM expresses condolences on death of Prince Badr Bin Abdul Mohsen
56 minutes ago -
Miss Martini aims to bring drag joy to France's Olympic show
1 hour ago
-
'Hypnotised' Wilson into second World Snooker final
1 hour ago -
Golf: US PGA Byron Nelson tournament scores
1 hour ago -
Hamas, Israel, entrench positions at Gaza truce talks
2 hours ago -
Floods in southern Brazil kill 55, force 70,000 from homes
2 hours ago -
Pakistan's Shahzad Baig named among TIME's 2024 list of 100 most influential people in healthcare
2 hours ago -
'Revolution' in air as actor stumps for Hungary opposition
3 hours ago