UN, partners step up efforts to reduce health risks in Gaza
United Nations, July 30
UN humanitarians and partners are stepping up efforts to help Gazans reduce major public health risks, including rodent infestation, said the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs.
Widespread rodent and ectoparasite infestations were reported in 83 per cent of displacement sites assessed earlier this month, alongside sewage in streets, stagnant water and poor sanitation conditions, said OCHA on Wednesday (local time).
In response, humanitarian partners are scaling up rodent control this week. The UN Development Programme and other partners are distributing nine metric tonnes of rodenticides daily, brought into Gaza by the United Arab Emirates, said the office.
"To reduce public health risks, sustained access to critical equipment and supplies such as spare parts and engine oil is urgently needed," OCHA said. "It is also critical that partners managing solid waste in Gaza are permitted to reach landfills in areas where access is restricted by Israeli forces, about 65 per cent of the strip."
The office said that access to water also remains a daily challenge for families. The United Nations and its partners are trying their best to support hundreds of thousands of children and their families by providing access to essential water, sanitation and hygiene services, reports Xinhua news agency.
Farhan Haq, deputy spokesman for UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, said at a regular briefing on Wednesday that in Khan Younis, the UN Children's Fund (UNICEF) is supporting the construction of a central water well expected to benefit about 7,000 people. In Gaza City, UNICEF is joining efforts to clean up the Sheikh Ajleen wastewater treatment plant, which served 700,000 people before it was damaged in hostilities.
Haq said the UN Operational Satellite Applications Programme and partners estimated earlier this week that about 430,000 kindergarten and school-aged children, about 56 per cent of the estimated student population, were enrolled in more than 600 temporary learning spaces across Gaza.
In some of these learning spaces, programs are underway to help children catch up ahead of the new school year, although nearly half of school-aged children still lack adequate access to learning opportunities, he said.
— IANS
Reader Comments
The humanitarian crisis in Gaza is a stark reminder of how war affects the most vulnerable. UNICEF's efforts to build water wells and clean wastewater plants are commendable, but 56% of children without access to learning is a tragedy. The international community must do more.
As someone from India, I can't help but compare this to our own challenges during floods or natural disasters. The scale here is overwhelming—9 tonnes of rodenticides daily! But why is Israel blocking access to 65% of landfills? That's just inhuman. Let's hope for a ceasefire soon.
It's positive to see the UN and partners scaling up rodent control and water projects. The fact that 430,000 children are enrolled in temporary learning spaces shows resilience. But we need sustained access to spare parts and supplies—without that, these efforts are just a band-aid.
This is so saddening. The UN is doing yeoman's work, but the root problem remains the conflict. Without peace, all these efforts are temporary. India has always advocated for dialogue—I wish world powers would push harder for a ceasefire. Children deserve better. 😔
Water and sanitation are basic human rights. The Sheikh Ajleen wastewater plant serving 700,000 before being damaged—that's insane. Respect to UNICEF for trying to rebuild, but the restrictions on landfills and access by Israeli forces are justifiable only if security is the concern. Need more transparency.
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