The collapse of the water and sanitation infrastructure in the Gaza Strip is leading to an increase in deadly diseases. Children are the most affected by the consequences.

Matthew Doran reports for the Australian Broadcasting Corporation.

In summary:

• The destruction of water and sanitation facilities in the Gaza Strip has led to an increase in infectious diseases. Polio has re-emerged and skin infections are spreading rapidly.
• Hospitals are overwhelmed and under-resourced, and are barely able to treat patients due to a severe shortage of medical supplies, especially for children.
• Water sources have dried up and people have less than five litres of water per day, further exacerbating the health crisis.

Key quote:

“Whether it’s intentional damage or collateral damage, the damage is done. And the result is that people are dying from dehydration and from diseases that are directly related to the damage to the water and wastewater infrastructure.”

— Bushra Khalidi, researcher at Oxfam.

Why this is important:

The destruction of Gaza’s vital water infrastructure is creating a public health catastrophe, especially for children, as infectious diseases spread in conditions that are becoming increasingly unbearable. Read more: Human resilience and ecological resistance in the tear gas capital of the world.