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Intense heat in Gaza could intensify health crisis for Palestinians, WHO alerts

The World Health Organization alerted on Friday that scorching heat in the Gaza Strip might worsen illness for Palestinians displaced by Israeli bombardment and heavy battling in between its forces and Hamas militants.

The World Food Programme has actually alerted that a massive public health crisis is looming in Gaza due to the lack of tidy water, food and medical materials.

We've seen huge displacement over the recentlies and months, and we understand that combination and the heat can cause a. increase in illness, said Richard Peeperkorn, WHO's representative. for Gaza and the West Bank.

We have water contamination because of warm water, and we. will have a lot more food putridity since of the high. temperature. We will get insect mosquitoes and flies,. dehydration, heat stroke.

Extreme heat has actually eliminated hundreds worldwide as the northern. hemisphere summer begins.

Peeperkorn stated in Gaza, due to bad water and sanitation. conditions, the number of cases of diarrhoea were 25 times. higher than normal.

Contaminated water and poor sanitation are connected to. illness such as cholera, diarrhoea, dysentery and hepatitis A,. according to the WHO.

The WHO has been not able to perform medical evacuations. from Gaza given that the closure of the Rafah crossing in early May.

Peeperkorn said an estimated 10,000 clients still required. medical evacuation from Gaza, half of whom are experiencing. disorders connected to the war.

Israel's air and ground offensive has killed more than. 37,400 individuals in the Hamas-ruled Palestinian area,. according to health authorities there.

Israel launched its attack after Hamas fighters stormed. throughout the border into southern Israel on Oct. 7, eliminating around. 1,200 people and taking more than 250 people captive, according. to Israeli tallies.

(source: Reuters)