The destruction of medical infrastructure, attacks on hospitals and medical workers, and severe restrictions on the entry of medical supplies have left Gaza's medical, water and sanitation infrastructure in a state of disrepair, contributing to the current public health crisis in Gaza.
Without access to clean water, it is only a matter of time before polio is followed by another infectious disease, which could push Gaza further into health catastrophe.
Amman, Jordan, 22 August 2024 — In July, the poliovirus was detected in wastewater samples from Derio Al Bareh and Khan Younis. The first case, an unvaccinated 10-month-old infant, was confirmed in August. This means that the virus is once again circulating in Gaza, which has been polio-free for 25 years. The findings are alarming but entirely predictable, given that humanitarian organizations such as the International Rescue Committee (IRC) and our partners have consistently warned that a public health crisis is already underway in Gaza. With overcrowding in Gaza, combined with the widespread destruction of the health sector and water purification facilities, it is only a matter of time before polio spreads rapidly, along with other water-related diseases such as cholera.
The World Health Organization (WHO) said it is preparing a polio vaccination campaign and will distribute more than one million doses in the coming weeks, but continued Israeli bombing and ongoing hostilities will likely delay the campaign, highlighting the need for a ceasefire to allow for the safe delivery of the vaccine. Prior to the recent escalation, polio had been nearly eradicated from Gaza. The WHO warned that children under the age of five are at highest risk of death or serious complications because they have not been vaccinated.
Dr Jude Senkungu, IRC Emergency Health Coordinator for the Occupied Palestinian Territories (oPt), said:
“News of polio in Gaza should be a wake-up call that further epidemics are on the way. To prevent this public health crisis from turning into an increase in preventable deaths, vaccination campaigns must be accompanied by a permanent and sustained ceasefire and expanded humanitarian assistance to Gaza. This requires safe and unhindered access in and out of Gaza through all vaccination transit points, relevant equipment such as cold chain storage, and specialized staff.”
“But vaccination is only part of the response. Preventing future outbreaks of diseases like cholera requires simultaneous efforts to expand access to safe, clean, treated water. Without clean water, it is nearly impossible to prevent the spread of infectious diseases – people do not have enough water to drink and have no choice but to drink contaminated water, nor can they practice safe hand and personal hygiene habits or clean their living areas. This continues to foster unsanitary conditions that allow diseases like polio and cholera to spread, and can lead to increased deaths from preventable diseases, especially among children. To help rebuild Gaza's water infrastructure and provide clean water, Israel should lift import restrictions on supplies such as water chlorination supplies, fuel to run water systems, and equipment such as water pumps, solar panels and generator systems.”
“The IRC calls on the parties to protect civilians and infrastructure essential to survival, such as health and water infrastructure. From a humanitarian perspective, only an immediate and lasting ceasefire will allow the full protection of civilians, the release of hostages held by Hamas and other armed groups, and the expansion of humanitarian aid and the safe distribution of vaccines throughout Gaza through all possible routes.”
“However, the disease spreads quickly and thousands of children cannot afford to wait out a drawn-out negotiation process. An immediate halt to hostilities across Gaza is necessary to allow vaccination campaigns in August and September to proceed smoothly.”
IRC and its partners in Gaza are providing emergency and life-saving medical care, including direct medical care in Gaza's few remaining operating hospitals, as well as procuring and distributing medical supplies and medicines. IRC is also working with partners to provide psychosocial support, cash assistance and early childhood development programs in many of Gaza's displaced shelters. IRC provides water trucks and is working to scale up water, sanitation, nutrition and women and child protection programming.
