The World Health Organization (WHO) on Friday warned that intense rains and flooding are causing a surge in respiratory illnesses among displaced Palestinians in Gaza, with conditions expected to deteriorate further as winter sets in.
Dr Reinhilde Van De Weerdt, WHO Representative for the occupied Palestinian territory, told reporters in Geneva from Jerusalem that acute respiratory infections are 33,000 cases higher than during the same period last year.
Respiratory infections currently account for 11 percent of medical consultations. The WHO expects cold weather, flooding, overcrowded shelters, and poor ventilation to drive numbers higher, warning that winter has not fully set in yet.
Nearly one million displaced Palestinians live in flood-exposed areas, with 400,000 residing in locations considered extremely high risk.
The warning follows a joint appeal by 53 countries-including the United Kingdom, Turkiye, and Qatar-urging Israel to allow rapid and unimpeded humanitarian access to Gaza. The nations noted that provisions for expanded aid access agreed under the January 2025 ceasefire deal have yet to be realized.
With inputs from Al Jazeera