News - WHO concerned about spread of diseases in Gaza

Israeli bombing in recent weeks has forced the population of Gaza into cramped shelters without food supplies or clean water. This could lead to the spread of diseases, warns the World Health Organization, BBC reports. “We are extremely concerned about the spread of disease when the winter season arrives,” WHO spokesperson Richard Peeperkorn said. He said there were more than 70 000 cases of acute respiratory illness and more than 44 000 cases of diarrhea in Gaza—significantly more than expected. On November 17, UN aid deliveries to Gaza were again suspended due to fuel shortages and communications blackouts. The UN World Food Program (WFP) previously said that the civilian population of the Gaza Strip is at risk of starvation, since food and water in the enclave are practically non-existent and difficult to deliver.