UNRWA: Gaza Sees 800-1,000 New Hepatitis Cases Each Week, 40,000 Total Since Oct 7

KUALA LUMPUR, July 30 (Bernama) -- The United Nations (UN) Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) said 800 to 1,000 new hepatitis cases are being reported weekly from its health centres and shelters across Gaza.

In a statement, UNRWA said more children in Gaza are at risk of contracting Hepatitis A following the massive displacement of people, overcrowded shelters, lack of clean water, soap, and other hygiene supplies.

“Ten months of this brutal conflict, very heavy restrictions on humanitarian access, lack of adequate medical care and prevention measures, have created the perfect recipe for diseases, including Hepatitis A to spread in the Gaza Strip, especially among children in overcrowded shelters.   

“According to data from UNRWA's health programme, cases of Hepatitis A increased from only 85 cases reported before the war to nearly 40,000 cases reported since the war started,” it said.

UNRWA said there is no specific treatment for Hepatitis A. 

“UNRWA responded with diagnosis, awareness raising, and counselling,” it said.

Meanwhile, chief of the UNRWA Health Programme in the Gaza Strip, Dr Ghada Al-Jadba, said the Hepatitis A outbreak is spreading in Gaza during the war as families are displaced and live in dire and inhumane conditions in overcrowded camps and shelters.

“They lack clean water, hygiene kits, and proper waste and sewage management. This crisis continues to make it extremely hard for the UNRWA health programme to respond to the needs of the sick,” she said.

-- BERNAMA