Conditions worsen in Rafah with sewage spills, waste issues and a heatwave
Palestinians walk next to a sewage spill near tents for internally displaced people at a temporary camp in Rafah camp, southern Gaza Strip, April 26
Israeli attacks have decimated 70 percent of northern Gaza’s water wells: Beit Lahiya mayor
Israeli military attacks have wrecked 70 percent of the water wells and 50 percent of the sewage pumps in northern Gaza, according to Beit Lahiya mayor Alaa al-Attar, worsening sanitary conditions.
At the same time, Israeli attacks have destroyed “all agricultural crops in the town [Beit Lahiya] which is considered the primary food basket for the Strip,” said al-Attar in comments carried by the Anadolu news agency.
Aid groups say the lack of clean water, nutrition, sanitation and reliable healthcare throughout Gaza is causing infectious diseases, including hepatitis A, to spread in the enclave.
Gaza health crisis – Israel’s war fuels spread of diseases
The number of Palestinians with malaria, dengue fever and other illnesses is rising as mosquitos and flies spread disease amid a lack of sanitation facilities. Amer Hamad, a displaced Palestinian, says the “situation is very dire” with 5,000 displaced people forced to share one toilet.
“This place is not suitable for living at all, no toilets, no water, no sanitation facilities,” he said. “This has led to the spread of diseases that are alien to us.”
