Palestinian Health Minister Issues Urgent Appeal to Save Lives of Displaced in Gaza Strip
The Palestinian Health Minister has issued an urgent appeal to save the lives of displaced persons in Gaza from the risks of cold and disease.
Translated by Qiyas from كونا — Original source
Ramallah, November 7 (KUNA) -- Palestinian Health Minister Majid Abu Ramadan issued an urgent appeal today, Saturday, to the international community, the United Nations, and health, humanitarian, and relief organizations to intervene immediately to save the lives of hundreds of thousands of displaced persons in the Gaza Strip, as thousands of tents are being flooded by rainwater.
In a press statement, Abu Ramadan warned of escalating risks of spreading infectious diseases and threatening the lives of the most vulnerable groups, at a time when winter is still in its early stages and safe shelter essentials are lacking, alongside a sharp deterioration in health and environmental conditions.
He stressed that these conditions occur within the context of a complex health and humanitarian crisis, in which the effects of widespread destruction of infrastructure and water and sanitation networks, accumulated waste, shortage of clean water, lack of personal hygiene supplies, severe overcrowding in displacement centers, malnutrition, and declining access to basic health services compound the risks to the population’s health.
Abu Ramadan said that “continuous exposure to cold and dampness inside dilapidated tents, along with overcrowding and poor ventilation, increases the risks of transmitting respiratory infections, including influenza and pneumonia, and threatens serious complications, particularly among children, infants, the elderly, and patients, amid a shortage of heating facilities, winter clothing, and blankets.”
The Palestinian Health Minister emphasized that addressing these risks cannot be limited to medical interventions; it requires a comprehensive humanitarian, health, and environmental response that tackles the root causes of disease and provides conditions for safe living. He stressed that delaying the required interventions would further burden an exhausted health system and put more lives at risk.
He added, “What is happening in Gaza is not a temporary winter crisis, but an escalating threat to public health and the lives of the population that demands an immediate international response commensurate with the scale of the disaster. Families that have lost their homes and basic means of livelihood must not be left to face the cold, disease, and pollution without protection. We must not wait for more casualties or the outbreak of epidemics before taking action.”
He affirmed that “humanitarian and legal responsibilities require taking urgent measures now, while we are still at the beginning of winter, before the risks worsen and turn into human losses that could have been avoided.” (End) N.Q. / M.M. J
