WHO sounds renewed warning on catastrophic humanitarian situation in Gaza

By Ahmet Gencturk

ATHENS (AA) - The World Health Organization on Wednesday repeated its warning on the catastrophic humanitarian situation in Gaza, which has been under relentless Israeli attacks since last Oct. 7.

“Palestinians in Gaza are right in the middle of a catastrophe, in terms of nutritional status, shelters, access to clean water, access to electricity, access to medicine,” Michael Ryan, who heads the UN agency, said in response to a question by Anadolu at a news briefing.

This situation could absolutely get even worse, he noted, adding that nutrition underpins every aspect of health, as it can lead to chronic diseases.

Israel has pounded the Gaza Strip since a cross-border attack by Palestinian group Hamas on Oct. 7, in which nearly 1,200 Israelis are believed to have been killed.

At least 26,900 Palestinians have since been killed, mostly women and children, and 65,949 others injured, according to Palestinian health authorities.

About 85% of Gazans have been displaced by the Israeli onslaught, while all of them are food insecure, according to the UN. Hundreds of thousands of people are living without shelter, and ⁠less than half of aid trucks are entering the territory than before the start of the conflict.