Gaza: Malnutrition, Dehydration Kill 34 Amid Israeli Bombardment – UN

UN World Health Organisation (WHO) spokesperson Tarik Jasarevic has reported on Tuesday that 34 people have died in Gaza from malnutrition and dehydration due to the ongoing Israeli bombardment, which began after Hamas-led terror attacks on October 7.

Jasarevic said Kamal Adwan Hospital in Northern Gaza identified 60 cases of severe acute malnutrition last week.

“Malnutrition is definitely one of the factors that reduce the immunity, especially of the vulnerable population, elderly and children, who then can’t really cope with any disease, any pathogen that they can get,” he said, describing a vicious circle of insufficient food, clean water, sanitation, and health services.

He praised health workers who returned to their facilities once they felt secured enough to try and get vital services running again.

Out of Gaza’s 36 hospitals, only 13 are “partially functioning”, he said.

Meanwhile, the UN agency for Palestine refugees (UNRWA) reported that hundreds of Gazans sought help at a newly reopened health centre in Khan Younis, which had been forced to close for six months after it was severely damaged due to heavy fighting.

The UNRWA Japanese Health Centre in Khan Younis offers primary healthcare services and houses a pharmacy and medical staff who had previously fled as fighting and Israeli tanks rolled through the streets outside.

“People in Gaza desperately need healthcare, but only a fraction of UNRWA health centres are operational due to the ongoing military operations and damage and destruction of UNRWA facilities,” UNRWA Senior Communications Officer, Louise Wateridge said, stating that less than one-third of health centres are operational.

On its first day back up and running, 33 medical staff reported for duty and supported more than 900 patients seeking treatment, she added.

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