Gaza: Shortages of water and health services 11 days after aid entry was suspended

The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) said people across Gaza are finding it increasingly difficult to find enough food, water, health services and other vital necessities.

Efforts to restore Gaza’s medical system continue, but progress is slow, UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric said at his daily news briefing.

Dujarric added that only 16 percent of medical service points in the northern Gaza governorate are still fully or partially operational. This includes 3 out of 5 hospitals, 6 out of 50 medical points and four of more than 20 medical centers.

On solid waste collection, the speaker said there were significant challenges. He said the accumulation of garbage leads to unsanitary conditions and increases risks to public health. The problem is exacerbated by the lack of spare parts, as 80% of garbage collection carts and containers are either destroyed or damaged.

Dujarric also spoke of the inability to adequately deal with infectious medical waste as well as a mixture of solid waste contaminated with explosive devices.