The collapse of Gaza’s water and sewage infrastructure is fueling a surge in deadly diseases, with children suffering the most from the fallout.
Matthew Doran reports for the Australian Broadcasting Corporation.
In short:
- The destruction of water and sanitation facilities in Gaza has led to a surge in infectious diseases, with polio re-emerging and skin infections spreading rapidly.
- Hospitals are overwhelmed and under-resourced, struggling to provide care due to a severe shortage of medical supplies, especially for children.
- Water sources have been decimated, leaving residents with less than five liters of water per day, exacerbating the health crisis.
Key quote:
"Regardless whether it is deliberate or it's collateral damage, the damage is done. And the consequence of that is that you have people dying from dehydration and from disease that is directly linked to the damage done to water and wastewater infrastructure."
— Bushra Khalidi, researcher with Oxfam
Why this matters:
The destruction of essential water infrastructure in Gaza is creating a public health disaster, particularly for children, as infectious diseases spread in conditions that are becoming increasingly unlivable. Read more: Human resilience and ecological resistance in the tear gas capital of the world.
