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The United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) has issued a stark warning regarding a Hepatitis A outbreak in the Gaza Strip, stressing the urgent need for international support and intervention. UNRWA Commissioner-General Philippe Lazzarini expressed grave concern over the situation, highlighting that the outbreak is exacerbating an already dire humanitarian crisis in the region.
According to Lazzarini, the outbreak has rapidly spread due to the deteriorating sanitary conditions and insufficient access to clean water. The congested living conditions in Gaza, combined with the ongoing blockade, have severely impacted the region’s ability to manage and prevent such diseases. Hepatitis A, a highly contagious liver infection typically spread through contaminated food and water, poses a significant public health threat in these conditions.
The UNRWA chief pointed out that the health infrastructure in Gaza is under immense strain, with shortages of medical supplies and a lack of proper facilities for testing and treatment. This exacerbates the challenge of controlling the spread of the virus and providing adequate care for those infected.
Lazzarini’s call for international assistance includes the provision of emergency health supplies, the strengthening of water and sanitation infrastructure, and the implementation of widespread vaccination campaigns. He emphasized that without immediate and substantial support, the situation could deteriorate further, leading to a more severe public health crisis.
In response to the crisis, various humanitarian organizations are mobilizing resources to address the immediate needs of the affected population. However, Lazzarini’s warning underscores the critical need for sustained international involvement to mitigate the impact of the outbreak and improve the overall living conditions in Gaza.