The Palestinian Ministry of Health in the Gaza Strip warned on Tuesday of an alarming increase in the number of suspected and confirmed cases of meningitis, particularly among children under the age of five, amid an unprecedented health and environmental deterioration resulting from the ongoing aggression and blockade.
In a press statement, the Ministry stated that the younger age group remains the most vulnerable to the disease and its complications. It noted that the deteriorating quality of healthcare and the collapse of many hospitals and primary care centers, along with the severe shortage of medicines and childhood vaccinations, have limited the health sector’s ability to respond to emergencies.
The Ministry added that the general environment in the Gaza Strip has become fertile ground for disease outbreaks due to the catastrophic conditions in shelters, the severe shortage of drinking water, the spread of sewage, and the accumulation of waste. This poses a real threat to public health, especially for children, the elderly, and pregnant women.
The Ministry of Health issued an urgent appeal to all relevant authorities, humanitarian organizations, and international organizations to intervene immediately to improve health and living conditions in the Gaza Strip, support medical supplies, provide essential vaccinations, and combat the spread of the disease before it worsens.
