The Ministry of Health in the Gaza Strip has reported a concerning rise in meningitis cases amid the ongoing deterioration of the healthcare system in the besieged enclave.
اضافة اعلان
Dr. Ragheb Warsh Agha, Head of the Pediatrics Department at Al-Nasr Al-Rantisi Children’s Hospital in Gaza, stated in a press release today that the hospital has recorded hundreds of meningitis cases, warning of an escalating outbreak due to the continued collapse of the health sector and the catastrophic living conditions faced by the population.
Dr. Agha added, “We are witnessing a daily increase in meningitis cases, amid a severe shortage of clean water and personal hygiene supplies, which greatly increases the likelihood of disease and epidemic outbreaks—especially in overcrowded shelters lacking basic public health standards.”
He noted that Gaza’s healthcare facilities are under unprecedented pressure due to the Israeli blockade and the systematic destruction of medical infrastructure. Additionally, the forced displacement of roughly two-thirds of Gaza’s population has resulted in over 1.5 million people being crammed into small, overcrowded areas that lack even the most basic necessities for survival and healthcare.
Dr. Agha stressed that this dangerous population density significantly raises the risk of infectious disease outbreaks such as meningitis, at a time when hospitals and medical centers are suffering from acute shortages of medicines, antibiotics, and protective supplies.
He called on international and humanitarian organizations to take immediate action to provide clean drinking water and to support healthcare facilities with the necessary medications and antibiotics to curb the spread of the disease. He also urged support for primary healthcare units.
Dr. Agha appealed to the international community to uphold its moral and humanitarian responsibilities toward civilians in Gaza, who are facing a compounded health disaster and dire living conditions.
(Petra News Agency)
