Inhumane Living Conditions In Gaza: Scabies, Diarrhoea and Polio Outbreak

Image Credit, Hosny Salah

The World Health Organization (WHO) has confirmed an alarming health crisis in Gaza, with over 185,000 cases of scabies 70,000 other rashes and a staggering number of diarrhoea cases. Infectious diseases, including polio, have re-emerged in the region, underscoring the severe breakdown of living conditions. The situation has become unsustainable, pushing Gaza to the brink of a humanitarian catastrophe.

Israel has ordered the evacuation of over 2 million people, forcing them into less than 14% of the territory. Amid this mass displacement, relentless bombings continue, leaving the population with no safe refuge. The lack of clean water, food, and shelter exacerbates the crisis, with infrastructure decimated and essential supplies blocked. The closure of the Rafah border for months has prevented aid trucks from entering, and recent bombings have killed more aid workers, making relief efforts nearly impossible.

Famine has taken hold, resulting in the deaths of tens of thousands, many of whom are children. Hundreds of thousands are injured, and the resurgence of diseases points to a complete collapse of public health. The crisis is accelerating towards a point where plague-like diseases could wipe out the population or create a breeding ground for uncontrollable infections. This is not a distant possibility but an imminent threat.

The international community’s response has been woefully inadequate, with many complicit in Gaza’s destruction. When history is written, it will not and should not be kind to those who stood by and allowed this to happen. The unfolding tragedy demands immediate and uncompromising global action to prevent further loss of life. Basic human rights, including access to clean water, food, shelter, and medical care, must be restored immediately, as they are non-existent.

The urgency of the situation cannot be overstated. The world must act now to alleviate the suffering and put an immediate stop to the full-scale humanitarian disaster in Gaza. The lives of millions hang in the balance, and the time for decisive and compassionate action is now. The global community must not turn a blind eye any longer.