Situation in Gaza 'dire' says UNICEF
UNICEF has said that after more than two years of violence, the situation in Gaza was "dire" and that people were struggling with the basics in daily life.
The organisation's Communication Officer, Salim Oweis, recently returned from Gaza after spending two weeks in different parts of the territory.
Speaking on RTÉ’s This Week programme, he said that he saw firsthand people suffering skin rashes and bites due to rodents.
It comes as Gaza's civil defence service and hospitals said Israeli attacks killed at least six people today, in the latest violence to hit the territory despite a months-old ceasefire.
Israel and Hamas trade near-daily accusations of truce violations and Gaza remains gripped by bloodshed as progress on permanently ending the war remains stalled.
An Israeli airstrike on the Jabalia refugee camp in northern Gaza killed four people and wounded several others, said the civil defence agency, a rescue service that operates under Hamas authority.
Mr Oweis said that in terms of movement while he was in Gaza, UNICEF saw some more movement in the allowed areas, but Gazans are also frustrated by the lack of services while people are still struggling with the basics in daily life.
Displaced Palestinians, including children, form crowded queues at a food distribution point in the Nasr neighbourhood, west of Gaza City
He said that these basics were the likes of not being able to practise hygiene as well as issues with wastewater.
The water system, sanitation and sewerage systems are all but deployed or destroyed totally, he said.
"Adults and children are beyond struggling every day to keep themselves in a state of good hygiene, but also to protect themselves from rodents, bites and such.
"After two and a half years of violence, there’s mountains of rubble and solid waste spread across residential areas so it's the perfect environment for rodents to re-produce and take over the city."
He said that there are rodents coming into tents and camps but also in buildings as the sewerage system is so run down due to the lack of maintenance and the continued violence.
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In relation to hospitals, he said that only a few are open and not one is fully functioning while there are mounting needs.
"Those that are still standing are dealing with not only the injuries of the war still happening, but also with day-to-day diseases, sicknesses and traumas.
"The health system is really collapsing under the pressure."
Aid is needed to change the situation, he said, but it is either not being allowed in or not enough is being brought into the territory.
Mr Oweis added that there are still unsafe areas in Gaza, such as the yellow line for example, which still contains a population, but they cannot access services due to safety and security concerns, meaning people are cut off.
He said that although UNICEF can assist in getting children who need medical attention out on medical grounds, he said that children can die waiting.
At least 986 Palestinians have been killed in Gaza since the ceasefire took effect on 10 October last year, according to Gaza's health ministry, which operates under Hamas authority and whose figures are considered reliable by the United Nations.
The Israeli army has reported five deaths in its ranks during the same period.
Additional reporting AFP
