THE World Health Organisation (WHO) has warned that a “public health catastrophe” in Gaza in imminent.
Christian Lindmeier, a spokesperson for the WHO, said overcrowding, mass displacement and damage to water and sanitation infrastructure may cause a plethora of health issues as Israeli bombing continues.
Hamas-run health authorities in Gaza say more than 8300 Palestinians have been killed since air strikes began following the October 7 attacks on Israel, during which Hamas militants killed 1400 people.
Ground operations into Gaza are ongoing after the Israel Defence Forces warned all civilians in northern Gaza to “temporarily relocate” last week.
READ MORE: Historic Scottish town harbour forced to close after storm damage
An estimated 800,000 Palestinians have fled south, even though Israeli airstrikes have pounded the entirety of the besieged enclave.
According to Reuters, when asked if people were dying from complications other than those from the bombardment, Lindmeier said: "Indeed they are."
The UN Children’s Fund (Unicef) warned that children in Gaza were at risk of dehydration as water output sits at just 5% of normal levels with desalination plants either damaged or lacking fuel.
A spokesperson for Unicef, James Elder, said: "Child deaths due to dehydration, particularly infant deaths due to dehydration, are a growing threat.”
READ MORE: Humza Yousaf blasts Keir Starmer's refusal to call for Gaza ceasefire
He added that the costs of the conflict for children “will be borne out for decades to come”.
According to Elder, one Unicef staffer’s four-year-old daughter had begun self-harming due to the daily stress and fear.
Her mother told Elder: “I do not have the luxury to think about my children’s mental health – I just need to keep them alive”.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu continues to reject calls for a ceasefire.
Why are you making commenting on The National only available to subscribers?
We know there are thousands of National readers who want to debate, argue and go back and forth in the comments section of our stories. We’ve got the most informed readers in Scotland, asking each other the big questions about the future of our country.
Unfortunately, though, these important debates are being spoiled by a vocal minority of trolls who aren’t really interested in the issues, try to derail the conversations, register under fake names, and post vile abuse.
So that’s why we’ve decided to make the ability to comment only available to our paying subscribers. That way, all the trolls who post abuse on our website will have to pay if they want to join the debate – and risk a permanent ban from the account that they subscribe with.
The conversation will go back to what it should be about – people who care passionately about the issues, but disagree constructively on what we should do about them. Let’s get that debate started!
Callum Baird, Editor of The National
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here