Key facts
- The WHO reported a significant increase in water contamination in Gaza.
The World Health Organization expressed alarm over deteriorating water quality and contamination in Gaza, with microbiological contamination nearly tripling and acute watery diarrhea cases doubling between January and August. The WHO also highlighted the critical lack of prosthetic care for amputees.
The worsening water quality and lack of essential medical supplies in Gaza pose severe public health risks, exacerbating the humanitarian crisis and increasing the potential for widespread disease outbreaks, particularly among vulnerable populations.
The World Health Organization (WHO) has voiced serious concerns regarding the deteriorating water quality and contamination in the Gaza Strip, warning of increased risks of waterborne diseases, particularly ahead of the winter season.
Reinhilde Van De Weerdt, WHO Representative for the occupied Palestinian territories, stated that water sample testing between January and August revealed a near tripling of microbiological contamination, rising from under six percent to over 18 percent. Concurrently, cases of Acute Watery Diarrhea nearly doubled during the same period. Van De Weerdt emphasized that inadequate waste and sewage management would exacerbate the spread of diseases, as contaminated water could infiltrate living spaces.
The WHO representative also highlighted the critical lack of essential services for individuals with limb amputations. Approximately 6,600 people require long-term care for amputations, yet prosthetic limbs have been denied entry into Gaza since May 2024. As of July 2026, only 12 percent of the 4,600 patients who have undergone limb amputations since October 2023 have received prosthetic devices.